


v-Jv' 



^''<^^ 
•^ 































> 






•A 












W^ 



"^. 



> 



■.*' V 






^-o,.^" 










^O 




^ .. ■ , . -. ■ - ^. 



"-'•^ * iS\Vu-'?>'/Z'; ■ 



V'^^ 



.0* 






'^_ 



o > 






\' 



^. 



■ sj^ 






<^, 



' * « ^^ O r ° " ° II O 







^>'-^<; 

>^, 






.0' 



.-V ^.^v.n,o^ 






\> 



^-^ .^^^ 



V' 



^ ,0^' 



A 







'^ - ''^^ 0^ 



e^o* 






^" '''^■^. 



> 












■^. 












V-^' 

.s^^.. 



'?/ '^ '^l^^^V^V ^' "^ 



^% 



.0' c 
























^^ .^ .\<^S^-r'- > 



-^^ 









A. 



o V 




-n.- 


0^ 


f 


< 


o^ 




/ 


*<v 


^ 




O 






O 






■^ 


f ^ 


• o 


O^ 




.'•; 


^ 



•oV 









•A' -i 



•.■/r^ 



"^oV 



'^0^ 



^^•n^. 



,0 







V, 



^^ * » « ' ^^ 

<^ «, '(\^.^/,% *^ ■>■■ 



.s^V 







9 "-I 



fe' '^ " ■« 






<*^; 



(^^^y^^,^^ 



THE 
IIISTOIJY OF LEOMINSTER, 



NOllTIIERX HALF 



OF THE LAXCASTEE 



NEAV OR ADDITIONAL GRANT^ 

FROM JUNE 26, 1701, 



THE DATE OP 



THE DEED FROM GEORGE TAIIANTO, INDIAN' SAGAMORE, 







TO JULY 4, 1852. 



B^ IX^VID WILD EH 




FITCIIBU: 
r U I X T E D A T THE R E A' E I M. E OFF! V V. . 

1853. 



^ 




PREFACE. 



Leominster, December 3, 1851. 
This (lay I commence the work of preparing a history of this 
town from its earliest existence as a purchase from the Indians. 
And in view of my incompetency to perform a task of so great 
responsibility, in a manner satisfactory to myself or to others. I 
am ready to exclaim., 

O, that some abler native son 
Had written out what I've begun; 
' Tis too important to be lost, 
And 'tis too late to count the cost. 

Submitting myself however, to the disposal of that Almighty 
Being through whose goodness my life has been spared beyond 
the common age of man, I would humbly pray for a few months 
more, and that He will continue my health, and grant me 
strength, both of body and mind, to complete an undertaking 
which, as I trust and believe, may not be wholly uninteresting to 
those who are at present, or who may hereafter be citizens of 
this town. DAVID WILDER. 



December 3, I85'<>. 
It is done. My prayers have been answered. My life has 
been prolonged. My health and strength, both of body and 
mind, have been preserved. The work which, a year ago, was 
commenced with doubts and fears has been completed. And 
while I would be truly grateful for the unmerited favors of the 
past, I would for the future humbly submit myself to Ilim who 
has sustained me through a long and diversified life of difficul- 
ties and trials. 



•* PREFACE. 

I regret cxceediiioly that the following pages could not have 
be^n written by some one whose education is superior to mine ; 
but such as they are I cheerfully submit them to my friends, 
not doubting but that when they read, instead of criticising tlie 
language, they will " put on charity." My business has been 
principally with the facts. And although no inconsiderable por- 
tion ot them have been written from memory and oral tradition, 
yet I have had recourse to the Records of the Church, the town, 
the County, the State, and the Proprietor's Book. And I have 
also extracted, and in some instances rather copiously, from the 
Centennial Discourse preached by the Rev. R. P. Stebbins, in 
184:3, from the History of Laacaster, by J. WiUard, Esq.; that 
of Sterling, by I. Goodwin, Esq., and some others. So that in- 
stead of being a work of mine, the book may with propriety be 
considered a compilation from the works of others. 

And now I would return my thanks to those friends who have 
kindly furnished me with statistical and other facts concerning- 
the Churches, the Agricultural, the Manufacturing, the Mechan- 
ical and other interests of the people here. 

I feel myself under particular obligations to the Rev. Amos 
Smith, and to the Messrs. J. C. Allen, Leonard Burrage, James 
Boutelle, Charles H. Colburn, Samuel M. Carter, Wm. F. Howe, 
John Gardner, x^mos Ilaws, Jabez B. Low, J. C. Lane, Luke 
Lincoln, G. &i A. Morse, Josiah and Scwall Richardson, Albert 
SUalton, of this town ; and to Hon, O. B. Morris, of Springfield, 
Charles G. Prentiss, Esq., of Worcester, Charles W. Lovett, Esq., 
of Boston, Silas Bruce, Esq., of Townscnd, Doctor P. T. Ken- 
dall, of Sterling, Mr. S. C. Simonds, of Norwich, Vt., Hon. John 
Prentiss, of Keene, and Mr. Asa Kendall, of Mount yernon, 
N. H., afid Hon. Timotiiy Boutelle, of Water ville, Maine. 

If, with their aid, I have been instrumental in' preserving such 
a knowledge of past events as may bo interesting and useful to 
posterity, my reward is ample and sure. 

DAVID WILDER. 



IIISTOllY OF LEOMINSTER. 



In order to render the liistory of this town 
the more intelligible, it is proper, and even 
necessary, to give some account of Lancaster 
and Sterling, Avith both of which it has been 
intimately connected. 

Joseph ^Villard, Esq., in his history publish- 
ed in the Worcester Magazine for September, 
1826, says: "The first settlement of Lancas- 
ter goes fiir back in the early liistory of ]Mas- 
sachusetts. It was the tenth town incorpora- 
ted in the County of Middlesex, and precedes, 
by many 3"ears, every town now within the lim- 
its of the County of AYoreester. Indeed, no 
town, so fiir from tlie sea coast, excepting 
Springfield, was incorporated so early. * * * 
The plantation at Xashaway was undertaken 
sometime m 1643. The whole territory around 
was in subjection to Sholan or Shauman, Sa- 
chem of the Xashaways, and whose residence 
was Waushacum, now' Sterling. ^Ir. Thomas 
King, of Watertown, united with a num- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



ber of others, and purchased the kind of 8ho- 
lan, viz : ten miles in length, and eight in 
breadth ; stipulating not to molest the Indians 
in their hunting, fishing, or planting places. 
This Deed v.'as sanctioned by the General 
Court. It covered a considerable portion of 
the towns of Harvard and Bolton, the whole, 
or nearly the whole of what is now Clinton, 
and one half mile in width on the Easterly side 
of Sterling, Eat not much progress was made 
in the settlement for eight or ten years. The 
Town was incorporated May 18, 1653, (O. S.,) 
there being then but nine families in it." 

" The inhabitants were ordered to take care 
that a Godly minister be maintained amongst 
them, that no evil persons, enemies to the laws 
of this Commonwealth, in judgement or prac- 
tice, be admitted as inhabitants, and none to 
have lots confirmed to them, but such as take 
the oath of fidelity." 

The affairs of the town seem to have proceed- 
ed with tolerable quiet for more than twenty 
years from the first settlement, till 1674. The 
population had increased quite rapidly and was 
spread over a large part of the to^vnship. The 
Indians were inclined to peace, and, in various 
wavs, were of service to the inhabitants. But 
tliis happy state of tilings was not destined to 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 7 

continue. The day of deep and long continued 
distress was at hand. The natives with whom 
tlicy had li^■ed on terms of mutual good will, 
were soon to become their bitter enemies : des- 
olation was to spread over the fair inheritance : 
fii-e and the tomahawk, torture and death, were 
soon to be busy in annihilating all the com- 
forts of domestic life. On the 22d day of Au- 
gust, 1675, eight persons were killed, and on 
the 10th of February following, early in the 
morning, the forces of several tribes of Indians, 
led by Phillip, made a desperate attack upon 
tlie town in five different places at once. From 
fifty to fifty-five persons were either killed or 
taken prisoners. And in about six wrecks af- 
terwards all the houses but two were destroyed, 
the town was deserted, and for more than thr(« 
years Lancaster remained without an inhabi- 
tant. No record exists by which the precise 
time of the re-scttlcment took place ; but it was 
probably in the spring of 1680. Some of the 
first planters, or theii- children, who were still 
living, returned, accompanied by others. Of 
the former were the Prescotts, Houghtons, Saw- 
yers, Wilders, Szc. A number of brothers by 
the name of Carter came in soon afterwards 
from Woburii, and were the descendants of the 
first minister of that town. 



b HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

The civil history of Lancaster from 1680 to 
1T2-A, excepting- what is preserved by Mr. Har- 
rington, is probably lost ; what progress there- 
fore the town made in popnlation and wealth 
for thirty years after its rc-settlcment is un- 
known. It is however certain that during this 
whole period the Indians continued hostile, and 
at nine different times made depredations on 
the inhabitants, killing some, taking others 
caj^ti^e, and burning their dwellings and their 
meeting-house. The first Avas on the 18th of 
July, 1692, when a party of the Indians attack- 
ed the house of Peter Joslin, and murdered his 
wife, three children, and a widow by the name 
of AMiitcomb, who resided in the family. Jos- 
lin himself, at the time, was at work in the field, 
and knew nothing of the terrible calamity that 
liad befallen him, till his return home. Eliza- 
beth How, his wife's sister, was taken captive, 
but was aftewards returned. Another child of 
his was put to death by the enemy in the wil- 
derness. 

Eeing a lineal descendant from Joslin on my 
mother's side, I am able, by tradition, to add 
some particulars to the above account. One of 
the little boys in the morning requested lea"\e 
to go into the field witli his father, assigning 
as a reason that he liad seen some red men in 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 9 

the hemp ; but the father heeded him not. It 
was baking day with Mrs. Joslin, and she de- 
fended herself against the Indians with tlijc 
bread-shovel, till she received a death wound 
from a tomahawk. Elizabeth How was spin- 
ning on the little wheel ; and probably was 
spared on account of the sweet melody she was 
making with her voice. The Indians used to 
make her sing to them in her captivity. Peter 
Joslin, who out-lived his foiu-tli wife, died at 
the house of his son John in this town, April 
8, 1759, aged 9^ years, and his grave is in the 
north-east part of the old burying ground. 

" The last attack was on the 5th of August, 
1710, and the last person killed was an Indian 
boy at work with Nathaniel and Oliver Wild- 
er." 



THE LANCASTER NEW OR ADDITIONAL GRANT. 

It must be a source of satisfaction to the 
owners of real estate, to know that they have 
acquired it honorably, paid for it honestly, and 
obtained a, good and sufficient title to it. Thus 
it was with the New Grant. In October, 1G79, 
tt committee was appointed by the County 
Court, under a law then in force, to re-build 



10 HISTORY OF LEOMI^^STER. 

the town of Lancaster, and it is not improbable 
that some encouragement of an additional grant 
was held out to the first settlers to induce tliem 
to return. And this cii'cumstance may have 
led to the error in the sermon j)rcached on 
leaving the old meeting-house, Oct. 12, 1823, 
by the late Eev. Mr. Conant, in which he says 
that " the first grant of this town must have 
been prior to the year 1680." That no such 
grant was either confirmed or made till many 
years afterwards, will appear by the following 
documents copied from the history of Sterling, 
by the late Isaac Goodwin, Esq., and published 
in the Worcester Magazine for 1826. The first 
agreement was made in 1701. 

The following is a copy of the Indian deed 
of the New Grant, the bargain with George 
Tahanto and other Indians, for lands of them 
purchased. 

" Know all men by these presents, that I, 
George Tahanto, Indian Sagamore, for and in 
consideration of what money, namely, twelve 
pounds, was formerly paid to Sholan, my uncle, 
sometime Sagamore of Nashuah, for the 'piu- 
chase of said township and also forty-six shil- 
lings foijnerly paid by Insigne John Moore and 
John IIoi%hton of said Nashuah to James Wi- 
ser, alias Quenepenett, now deceased, but espec- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 11 

ially for and in consideration of eighteen ponnds 
paid part, and the rest secnred to be paid, by 
John Houghton and Nathaniel "Wilder, their 
heirs, executors and assigns forever, a certain 
ti'act of land on the West side of the AVestward 
line of Nashuah township, adjoinmg to said 
Ime, and butts southerly for the most part on 
Nashuah river, bearing westerly towards Wa- 
chusett Hills, and runs northerly as far as 
Nasliuah township, and which lands and mead- 
ows, be it more or less, to be to. the said In si (pic, 
John Moore, John Houghton, and Nathan- 
iel Wilder, their heirs and assigns, to have and 
to hold forever. And I, the said George Ta- 
hanto, do hereby promise and engage to pro- 
cure an order from the honored General Court, 
for their allowance and confirmation of tlie 
sale of said lands ^as aforesaid, and also that I 
will show and mark out the bounds of said 
land in convenient time, not exceeding four 
months, and also to make such deeds and con- 
veyances, as may be necessary for the confirma- 
tion of the premises, and that also I, the said 
George Tahanto, do by these presents, fully 
notify and ■ confinn, all and every, the said 
township of Nashuah, alias Lancaster, to the 
Inhabitants and Proprietors thereof according 
as it was formerlv granted to them or their an- 



12 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

cestors by my Uncle Sliolan, and laid out to 
them by Ensign Thomas Noyes, and confirmed 
by the Hon. General Court. For the perform- 
ance of all the above said, I, the said George 
Tahanto, have set my hand and seal this twen- 
ty sixth day of June, in the 13th year of the 
reign of our Sovereign Lord, William, the 
Thu'd, over England, &c.,King, Annoque Dom- 
ini, 1701. 

Signed and Sealed in presence of 

George Tahan'to, his O mark. 
Mary Aunsocamug, her ) mark. 

John Wonsquon, his ) mark. 

John Aquitticus, his I mark. 

Peter Puckataugh, his P mark. 

Jonathan Wilder- 
John Guild." 

The above is a copy of the deed as it stand? 
upon the Proprietor's llecords. 

Tlie following is the confirmation " Anno- 
que Pegni Anna.^ Pegina^ Duodecimo." " At a 
Great and General Court or Assembly for her 
Majesty's province of the Massachusetts Bny 
in New England, begun and held at Boston, 
May 27, 1713. 

" In Council. — The report of the Committee 
upon the surveys of land prayed for by Lancas- 
ter, Nov. 21 and 22, 1711. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 13 

'' Whereas, we the subscribers, viz : Jonathan 
Prescott, John Farnsworth, and Samuel Jones, 
are a Committee appointed to view a tract of 
land, petitioned for by the Inhabitants of Lan- 
caster, and to make report to the General 
Court, for their consideration, we have accord- 
ingly been upon the spot, the days above dated, 
and proceeded thereupon as follows : Imprhnls. 
We began at the proper bounds of the Lancas- 
ter plantation, and thence run our line upon a 
Northwest point or thereabouts, along by the 
Southwest side of Masshapauge and Unkach- 
PU'alwick Ponds extending said line three 
miles, from thence we made an angle running 
near upon a S. W. point, crossing a river called 
the North ri^-cr, and so running over hills 
called Monnoosuck Hills, said line being about 
six miles in length, till it meets with the mid- 
dle branch of Lancaster river, at or near a 
little hill on which the Indians had marked a 
ti'ee for a corner of said, land, being near five 
miles wide. At the Southward end bounded 
partly by Capt. Davenport's farm, to the S.^W. 
comer of Lancaster old bounds. The land in- 
cluded within these bounds is rocky and moun- 
tainous, and very poorly accommodated with 
meadow. Jonathan Prescott, 

Samuel Jones, John Farnsworth. 
2 



14 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

" Read and ordered tliat the tract of land 
above described, be added and confirmed to the 
to^^■n of Lancaster, as a part of the township, 
not prejudicing any former grants. 

Concurred by the KepresentatiATS, 

Consented to, Joseph Dudley. 

Isaac Addington, vSec'ry." 

Previous "to this act of confirmation the In- 
habitants of Lancaster, at a Public Town-meet- 
ing, Feb. 5, 1711, voted that all such as were 
inhabitants, might join m the purchase of the 
Indian Land, and all such as would do it, 
should signify the same, by subscribing their 
names to the following contract : 

" Know all men, that we, the subscribers, 
being desirous to purchase a tract of land 
which lieth on the West side of Lancaster, 
which lands have formerly been petitioned for 
to the General Court, and which the Inhabi- 
tants of Lancaster are still in pursuance of, 
and their petition is still with the General 
Court for granting the same, and considerable 
money having been paid to George Tahanto 
and other Indians, towards the purchasing of 
said lands, though not yet consummated: "We, 
the subscribers, do hereby bind ourselves and 
our heirs to pay each one his equal share of 
the purchase of said lands and all charges that 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 15 

liave or shall be expended about thesa nie, 
and to run equal hazard of obtamin<:^ said 
land, provided, that ii' said land be obtained, 
we sliall each one have an equal share, and the 
said money to be paid before the 5th of March 
next, and shall subscribe hereto on or before 
the 15 th of the present month, or else lay no 
claim to said land. 

Signed by Joii?? Prextice, 
James "Wilder, 
And 96 others." 

Thomas "Wilder and John Houghton were 
appointed to manage the Petition at the Gen- 
eral Court. 

Feb. 15, 1714, a Committee was chosen to 
allot said land in lots of 40 acres to a share of 
the best land, and 40 acres for a Minister, in the 
most convenient place, and if they find or know 
of a convenient place for clay ground, that it 
be reserved for the benefit of the whole. All 
lots not so good in quality to be more in quan- 
tity, so as to be equal to 40 acres of the best 
land. 

The first legal meeting of the Proprietors 
was called by Thomas How, Esq., one of tlie 
Justices of the Peace for the County of Middk*- 
sex, to be held in Lancaster, March 6, 1716 ; 
John Houghton was then chosen Clerk. 



16 IIISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Thus the arrangement commenced in 1701, 
was consmnmatcd and confirmed by the Gener- 
al Court, whoehy ten* ioiy ec|iiivalent to about 
fifty square miles was added to the town of 
Lancaster, making it thii'teen miles in length 
from East to West, and ten miles in width be- 
tween North and South. 

But although the territory thus acquired was 
under the controrof the town in its corporate 
capacity, yet the land itself was owned by sun- 
dry inhabitants of said town in their capacity 
as Proprietors ; and as such, they, their heirs, 
and successors, caused it to be laid out and dis- 
posed of, and have managed the whole concern 
up to the present time. Hence came the Pro- 
prietors' Meetings, and the Pj-oprietovs' Books 
and Records. 

Among the principal Proprietors and those 
wlio had the greatest number of lots laid out to 
them, were, the Beamans, the Sawyers, the 
Houghtons, the Osgoods, the Carters, the Jos- 
lins, the Whites, the Whitcombs and the Wild- 
ers. Few, if any, of the original Proprietors, 
removed on to the New Grant, but their sons 
were among the iii'st settlers. As early as the 
year 1720 Gamaliel Beaman, Samuel Sawyer, 
Benjamin Houghton, David Osgood and Jona^- 
than Osgood, established themseh'cs in that part 



HISTORY OF LEOMI^■STER. 17 

of it which is now Sterling. Their settlements 
were all within short distances of each other, 
lying ^Soi'thwestwanlly of the INIeeting House. 
The Inhabitants found there a small tribe of 
Indians, with whom they lived on terms of 
the most perfect friendship. In 1725, Gershon 
Houghton and James Boutell ventured a few 
miles farther North and erected houses in what 
is now the South and S. Westerly part of Leom- 
inster. Seven years afterwards Jonathan Wliite 
fixed himself in the North part. And in two 
years more Tliomas Wilder and Nathaniel Car- 
ter became permanent settlers. And soon af- 
terwards settlements were commenced in differ- 
ent parts of the Northern half of the Grant (for 
it is yet all Lancaster) by Benjamin Whitcomb, 
Jonathan Wilson, Jonathan Carter, William Di- 
voU, Gardner Wilder, Ebenezer Policy, Oliver 
Carter, Josiah Carter, Thomas Houghton, 
Thomas Davenport, and others. Tradition says 
(and I believe the records will prove it to be 
true) that Samuel Carter owned four or five 
farms, and that he gave one to each of four sons. 
Nathaniel being the oldest had his first choice. 
And, to be the better satisfied which was the 
most valuable, he w^ould work one week on the 
Bee Hill lot, and the next on the Unckache- 
watunk. One Monday morning when he was 



18 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. * 

about to start, his father says to him, " Nat, 
wliich lot did you work on Last week ?' " Bc-e 
Hill, sir." " Well, that you go on to this morn- 
ing must be yours." When he came to the par- 
ting of the roads he turned to Bee Hill, where 
he and his son and grandson Nathaniel lived 
and died, and the farm is now in the possession 
of the fourth generation from the first settler. 

Tiius far vv^e have been speaking of Lancas- 
ter as a whole ; but it is now time to turn our 
attention to, and describe more particularly the 
Northwesterly corner thereof. 

Yv^hile the settlements advanced with great 
rapidity in the Southern half of the New Grant, 
by accessions not only from the old Parish, but 
also from Essex County and other places ; in 
the Northern, and, as I think, the better half 
of that Grant, the settlements were compara- 
tively few. For nineteen years after the Grant 
had been confirmed, there had been but two 
liouses erected. And there were scarcely more 
than five families even in 1733, when they had 
become so numerous in the Southern half as to 
induce them to petition to be set oiF as a sepa- 
rate township. But in a few years aftcrAvards 
there came in a considerable number of just 
such men as are necessary to manage a good 
cause successfully. They were generally Intel- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 19 

liijent and industrious farmers, and not in the 
habit of taking backward steps. As early as 
the year 1737 they came to the conclusion that 
they could conduct thcii' Parochial and Munici- 
pal concerns themselves, and with much less 
trouble and expense than to go to what is now 
Lancaster. And after several years of perse- 
vering efforts, they at length succeeded in satis- 
fying the General Court, that, among other con- 
ditions required of them, they could, and they 
would " maintain a Godly Mmister," And on 
the strength of the fulfilment of the last named 
condition, probably, mo]-e than any or all others, 
the prayer of their Petition was granted, and 
on the 23d of June, O. S., 1740, the same as 
the 4th of July, N. S., just thirty-six years be- 
fore the Declaration of xlmerican Independence, 
an Act was passed whereby territory equiva- 
lent to something more than five miles square 
was incorporated into a town by the name of 
Leominster, with all the powers and privileges, 
and subject to all the duties and requirements 
generally with the 150 other towns which had 
previously been incorporated in what is now 
tlie Commomvealth of Massachusetts and the 
State of Maine. 



20 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



BOUNDARIES. 

Although the Petition has been lost, and the 
Act of incorporation cannot be found, yet the 
boundaries of the town may be very accurately 
described. Commencing at the Southwest cor- 
ner, as it was originally, being the Northwest 
angle of Sterling, it runs east, nineteen and one 
h alf degrees South, sixteen hundred and ninety 
rods on Sterling to a stump at Lancaster ; thence 
making a right angle, it runs a few degrees 
East of North on Lancaster old line, about ten 
hundred and seventy rods ; thence, by many 
angles, in almost every direction, so as to in- 
clude the whole of what was formerly the farm 
of Thomas Houghton, quite at the Northeast 
corner of the town, it comes back up to the 
point of the said Lancaster line ; thence North- 
westerly on the line of Lunenburg to the South- 
erly end of Massapog pond ; thence, in nearly 
the same direction, to the Westerly end of the 
Chualoom pond ; thence, in a Southwesterly 
direction, on Lunenburg and Fitchburg to the 
top of the North Monoosnock Hill ; thence, 
nearly West, on Fitchburg to what, till lb38, 
was unincorporated land, or " No Town," and 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 21 

till said year the Western boundary was on said 
No Town. But by three Acts passed in 1838 
the whole of No Town was anner:ed to Prince- 
ton, Westminsier and Lcomhister ; and the 
boundaries in tluit quarter are now as follow, 
viz : beginning at a stake and stones at the 
Northeast corner of a lot of land belonging to 
John Whitne}', of Princeton ; and runnmg, 
first, South, thirty- three degrees West, two hun- 
dred and niwely-seven rods to a stone monu- 
ment, being the Southwest correr of Leomins- 
ter ; thence, secondly, from said Whitney's cor- 
ner, NorLli, fifty degrees and thirty minutes 
West, on what is now Princeton, about four 
hundred rods to a stake and stones; thence. 
North, fourteen degrees East, on the line of 
that part of No Town annexed to Westminster, 
about seven hundred rods, to a stake and stones 
on the South line 6f the town of Fitchburg ; 
thence South, seventy-eight degrees and forty 
minutes East, on the South line of Fitchburg, 
three huncked and tv/enty-five rods, to a stone 
monument, being the Northeast corner of what 
was No ToAvn, and the Northwest corner of 
what was previously Leominster. 

Previons to the annexation in 1838, the town 
contained 16,602 acres, being thir- y-e'ght acres 
short of twenty-six square miles. But by the 



2*2 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. ~ 

annexation of a part of No Town, two thousand 
acres were added, thereby increasing the number 
of acres to 18,602 being forty-two acres more 
than twenty-nine square miles. 

Although the West line of Lancaster was 
originally a straight one, yet, by some means or 
other, there are now several angles in it as will 
appear by the record of the perambulations be- 
tween that town and this. 



Pfl^'DS, RIVERS, &c. 

Previous to 1838, there Avere no collections 
of water wholly within the limits of this town 
tliat could be called natural ponds. On the 
p]ast the line includes a small portion of ^Yhite's 
Pond, and on the Northeast it touches Massa- 
pog and includes the Southwesterly corner of 
Chualoom. Biit by the annexation of No Town 
the whole of Ilocky Pond comes within our 
limits. And but few towns are now better 
watered in every direction than this. 

The Nashua river (in all the old deeds call- 
ed the North river) after the union of the sever- 
al branches whose sources are in Ashburnham 



HISTOUY OF LEOMINSTER. 23 

and AVestniinstcr, runs tlirougli the centre of 
Fitcliburg, and enters this town from the Xortli, 
' about equi-distant from the Northwest and the 
Northeast angles, takmg a serpentine course 
through the North ViUage, and in a Southeast- 
erly direction, enters the town of Lancaster 
about a mile South of White's Pond ; thence 
running in an Easterly, and a Southeasterly di- 
rection, till it unites with the true Nashaway, 
about a mile South of Lancaster meeting-house, 
forming what was originally the Penecook, but 
now by common consent the Nashua, they pass 
off together and unite with the Merrimack at 
Nashua in New Hampshire. 

Baker's Brook, quite a considerable stream, 
whose principal sources are in Asliby and Ash- 
burnham, after running through a portion of 
Fitchburg and the SouthAvest corner of Lunen- 
burg, enters the Nashua on the East about two 
hundred rods South of the North line of the 
toAvn. Several other smaller streams run in on 
the East side, the last of which is the outlet of 
White's Pond. 

From the West and Southwest the water 
comes pouring down from the hills through 
the valleys in rivulets and streams from every 
quarter and in all directions. 

The first in point of size and importance is 



24 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

the Monoosnock Brook, whose principal source 
is in Hocky Pond, which after receiving several 
streams from the North, and numerous tributar"* 
ries from the hills in the West and South, runs 
through the centre of the town, and unites 
with the Nashua about a mile below Crehore's 
paper-mill. 

The next is Fall Brook, whose principal 
sources are at Long, Baberry, and Sheldon's 
hills, which, with one other stream fprn the 
South, unitedly empty into the Nashua about 
two hundred rods above where it enters the 
town of Lancaster. ■ 

In the south-w^est corner of the town there 
are several streams, the most important of 
which is, or formerly was, from the Southern 
outlet of Rocky Pond, and which, when united, 
form what is at first called Justice Brook, 
afterwards Still Water, and runs Southerly 
tlirough Sterling, and unites v/ith the South 
branch of the Nashua in West Boylston. 

Quite at the Southeast part of the town is 
tlie source of one branch of the Wichapekctt, 
in Sterling. And at the northerly part, the 
outlet of Chualoom Pond forms a considerable 
stream which passes through meadows of the 
same name, and through ^lassapog to Shirley 
Village, and still firther a small stream takes 
the same course. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 25 



SURFACE, sou AND PRODUCTIONS. 

Although the Committee on the survey of the 
New Grant in their report represent " the land 
as rocky and mountainous, and very poorly ac- 
commodated with meadow," yet with the excep- 
tion of the Monoosnock, Baberry and Rocky 
Hills, in that portion of the Grant included 
within the boundaries of this town previous to 
the annexation of the No Town land, the sur- 
face cannot truly be said to be mountainous or 
rocky. It is true that numerous parts of the 
town have from time immemorial been designa- 
ted under the appellation of Hills, such as Bee 
Hill, Joslin HUl, Chualoom HUl, Nichols Hill, 
Houghton Hill, Carter Hill, Gardner Hill, 
Boutell Hill, and some others ; but they are 
generally only gentle swells of the first rate of 
the upland, not difficult for the farmer to get 
about upon, and were selected by the first setr 
tiers. Although there is a good proportion of 
level and plane land, yet, strictly speaking, the 
surface is undulating. But to the No Town 
land annexed in 1838, the language of the Com- 
mittee is truly applicable. 
3 



26 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

And although this town may not abound in 
deep and miry meadows and swamps, yet there 
is a fair proportion of the true alluvial mead- 
ows lying on the river, the brooks and streams. 
I'he upland contains stone sufficient for fence, 
and, to the credit of the cultivators of the soil 
be it said, that they have made pretty free use 
of them for that purpose. But very little 
wooden fence is to be seen- 

The above named Hills, ^^ ith one or two ex- 
ceptions, can all be seen from the windows in 
the room in which I am now writing. The top 
of the South Monoosnock Hill is ten hundred 
and twenty feet above tide-water, being six hun- 
dred and six feet higher than the common in 
the centre of the town near the Meeting-houses. 
This Hill contains large, and perhaps inex- 
liaustible supplies of the very best granite, ly- 
ing in strata of every thickness. It is suitable 
for underpinning, doorsteps, the construction of 
bridges, and for other purposes ; and from 
^1,500 to ^2,000 worth of it is annually quar- 
ried and prepared. The Xorth Monoosnock al- 
so, the South part of which only lies in this 
town, is said to contain granite of good quality. 

There is a tradition that the first owner of 
the South Monoosnock, while at work there 
one Saturday in the afternoon, discovered what 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 27 

he considered far more valiia])le than granite, 
\'iz. a carhuncle. But being a conscientious 
man, he did not take it home with him that 
night, lest the approaching Sabbath might 
thereby become profaned. But the story got 
wind, and the next morning, Sunday or no Sun- 
day, the neighbors and others were all on the 
move searching for the hidden treasure, but 
without success. And, to the extreme disap- 
pointment of the owner himself, behold, Mon- 
day morning, it was not where he left it. — 
Whether it had been removed by some magnet- 
ic power, or whether he had been deceived by 
the reflection of the sun's rays, was of no conse- 
quence to him. On application to Molly Pitch- 
er, or some other soothsayer, it was predicted 
that a grandson of his by the same name would 
find it. There was such a grandson, but it 
is not known tliat he ever obtained possession 
of a jewel so j)recious, otherwise than by find- 
ing a most excellent woman for his wife. 

This town probably contains as great a vari» 
ety of soils as are to be found in any other 
town in the Commonwealth. And hence the 
natural growth of the wood and timber, as well 
as the Agricultural and Horticultural produc- 
tions, are also various. While the high, coarse, 
gravelly planes produced only the small pitch- 



28 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

pine, the lower and richer planes were thickly 
covered with the large white, pitch and yellow 
pines, for timber. On the deep alluvial was 
the white and sugar maple, the birch, the beach, 
the sycamore or button-wood, and the elm. And 
the rich soils of the upland were thickly cover- 
ed with the different species of oak, chestnut 
and walnut. And although of late years great 
quantities have been cut for the market, there 
are many heavy timber lots yet remaining. The 
lumber and fire-wood annually cut and prepared 
for the last ten years probably does not fall short 
of 600,000 feet of the former, and 3,000 cords 
of the latter, at a value of not less than j$f 13,000. 
Different kinds of fruit trees, such as the ap- 
ple, pear, peach, plum, cherry, &c., &c., also 
thrive well on the upland soils. The annual 
value of such fruits for ten years past may be 
safely estimated at from ^3,000 to ^'4,000. The 
Agricultural and Horticultural productions are 
hay, all the various kinds of grain and vegeta- 
bles, and garden fruit, the annual value of w hich 
for ten years past may be safely set down at 
from ;^40,000 to ^45,000. 

There is much good pasture land in town ; 
and not many years since, butter and cheese of 
the value of from ^8,000 to ^10,000 was an- 
nually made ; but of late, farmers are sending 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 29 

their milk to Boston and exchanging it for 
those articles made by they know not whom. 
Milk to the value of J^o,000 or $6,000 is now 
annually sent to Boston and other towns. 

Whatever may be the effect of this course 
uy)on their pecuniary interests, it is to be fear- 
ed that in at least one other point of view it 
may be unfavorable, inasmuch as farmers' daugh- 
ters will not only lose the opportunity of learn- 
ius: how to make those articles so necessary and 
convenient in a family ; but they will have 
more time to be idle, and thus be less fit for good 
and profitable wives. 

During the first half century this was strict- 
ly and almost exclusively a farming town. 
There were no manufactories, and only a suffi- 
cient number of mechanics to dress the cloth 
home-spun and made in the family — to do the 
blacksmithing — construct the ploughs, carts, 
and other implements of husbandry — to make 
and inend the custom shoes, Sec. It was not 
uncommon in those days for a shoemaker " to 
pack up his awls" and other tools, not except- 
ing even his seat, and go about from house to 
house making up the shoes for the year. And 
even the mechanics themselves were also farm- 
ers. The inhabitants were generally industri- 
ous and frugal, and the land was productive. 



30 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Large crops of grain were annually raised, and 
Indian meal and wheat flour were carried to 
the Boston market. A large proportion of the 
soil was natural to wheat. And even ten 
years ago, under the law allowing a bounty on 
wheat, there were but few towns in the Com- 
monwealth in which a greater quantity was 
raised than in this. And in one of those years 
there was but a single town to which a higher 
premium was paid, and that was Sheffield, in 
the County of Berkshire. But of late years 
the crops of wheat have been light. The 
article of flax was also raised in abundance. 
Almost every farmer would have his little 
patch, and some their acres, and hence have 
flax to sell. The wives and daughters made 
cloth of it for the family ; and the latter, to 
their credit, and in the promotion of their 
health, used to go into the field and help to 
pull it. And the boys, at an early age, learned 
to brake and swingle it. 

With few exceptions, the farmers in this 
town are not, nor have they ever been large 
landholders. The lots were accurately sur- 
veyed, and judiciously located, by a disinterest- 
ed Committee. No proprietor, on his own 
single right, could claim more than forty acres 
of the best land. If the quality was not so 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 31 

good, then more was allowed in quantity. The 
first fanns were generally from fifty to seventy 
rods in width, and from two to three hundred 
rods in length. And some of those farms still 
remain with the same metes and bounds that 
were established one hundred and twenty-five 
years ago. And a few of them continue to be 
owned, either in whole or in part, by the lineal 
male descendants of the first settlers, Samuel 
M. Carter, Abel Wilder, Levi Smith, and 
Charles F. Carter, are of the fourth generation 
from Oliver Carter, Thomas Wilder, Abijah 
Smith, and Nathaniel Carter. And Joseph 
Colburn, Solon Carter, William Carter, David 
Houghton, Shepherd C. Wilder, Luke and 
Ephraim Buss, are of the third generation from 
Nathaniel Colburn, Josiah Carter, Ebenezer 
Houghton, Gardner Wilder, and Stephen Buss. 
And those of David Robbins, and Thomas 
Houghton are in the possession of the female 
descendants. And some few farms have de- 
scended to the third and fourth generation of a 
former owner, other than a first settler. Of 
the fourth are William M. Legate, and Abel 
C. Wilder ; and of the third, Emory Burrage, 
Luke Lincoln, William A. Nichols, James 
Boutelle, and, perhaps, a few others ; but, for 
the most part, the real estate has gone into the 



32 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

possession of those in whose veins there flows 
not a drop of the blood of the first settlers, or 
of their children. 

Although various and numerous manufacto- 
ries (of which more will be said hereafter) have 
been established, yet they are for the most part 
in those portions of the town where the soil is 
the least suited to cultivation. And although 
dwelling houses have been multiplied to a \'ery 
great extent, yet this has been generally so in 
the vicinity of the manufactories, and in the 
villages. The buildings of the farmers, in by 
far the greatest proportion of the town, con- 
tinue to be about the same distance from each 
other as they were sixty-five years ago. Take 
for instance that portion of the Neck (so call- 
ed) commencing at the parting of the roads 
near B. Gibson's and going North, East and 
South, by the burying-ground to the elegant 
mansion lately built by Mr. J. C. Lane, a distance 
of about three miles, and there are only four 
more dwelling-houses than there 'wer^e in 1790. 

Take the Southwest road to Princeton, from 
Joseph Conant's to the line, along which, sixty 
years since, there lived seven or eight families 
by the name of Boutell, or those connected with 
them, and where at present there resides but a 
single man of the name, and the number of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 33 

dwelling-houses remains nearly the same. And 
SO also of a very great proportion of the South 
and East portions. But the most remarkable 
instance is on the road from M. D. Richardson's 
to A. Wilder's, near the pond, a distance of 
more than two miles, the number of dwelling- 
houses in 1786 was sixteen, and the same in 
1846 ; but since the latter period six or seven 
have been added to the number. Of a truth 
may it be repeated that this is still a farming 
town, and in this particular not a whit behind 
its neighbors. 

And in order still further to promote the in- 
terests of Agriculture and Mechanical pursuits, 
an Association was organized here in the au- 
tumn of 1851, to the Constitution of which the 
following Preamble was reported and adopted : 

" Recognizing voluntary labor as a wise and 
beneficent appointment of Providence, condu- 
cive to the well-being of individuals, indispen- 
sable to the existence of society, honorable in 
itself, and deserving therefore, to be cherished 
and encouraged, we, inhabitants of Leominster, 
in order to promote the interests of Agriculture, 
and all industrial pursuits, and especially to" 
benefit those engaged therein, by inciting to 
investigation, to reflection and to action, and 
by furnishing facilities for a free interchange of 



34 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

opinions, thereby to call forth the results of in- 
dividual observation and experience, and to 
elicit practical and scientific information, do 
hereby constitute ourselves an Association, and 
adopt the following 

CONSTITUTION. 

Art. 1. The name of this Association shall 
be " The Leominster Farmers' and Mechanics' 
Association." 

The annual meetings are to be held on the 
first Monday of January, and a Cattle Show 
and Fair for the exhibition of live stock, &c., in 
the autumn of each year. 

The present Officers are Leonard Burrage, 
President; Solon Carter, Vice President ; Joseph 
S. Darling, Secretary ; Porter Piper, Treasurer ; 
Edmund H. Nichols and Abel C. Wilder, Aud- 
itors ; Sewall Pichardson, Oliver Hall, Ezra 
Curtis, Charles C. Boyden, William B. Ilosmer, 
together with the first four officers above named, 
Executive Committee. The influence which 
such an Association wdl exert over the indus- 
trial pursuits can hardly be otherwise than sal- 
utary. 

For the first twenty-five years, aside from its 
Ecclesiastical concerns, there was nothing of 
great importance to be noted. Private ways 
had been laid out and established in almost every 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER, 35 

direction, so that the inhabitants were generally 
well accommodated with roads not only to meet- 
ing, but also into all the adjoining towns. For 
many years there was but a single instance in 
which compensation was made to those through 
whose lands the roads were located. Taxes 
were light. The farmer was seldom called 
from home to attend to public affairs. The 
Governors and other State officers being ap- 
pointed by " The Crown," the people here had 
none to choose except a Representative to tlie 
" Great and General Court," and of this privi- 
lege they did not avail themselves until the 
year 1774, when " clouds and darkness were 
round about them." During this period the 
number of families had been increased to about 
one hundred and twenty, a large proportion of 
whom were the children of first settlers. Oth- 
ers had come in from different places, but most- 
ly from the parent town. They w^ere an indus- 
trious, a prosperous, and a happy people. 
Some few Indians had remained here, but they 
did not molest their white neighbors other than 
by now and then plucking a few ears of com, 
or some other vegetable to satisfy their hunger. 
And although the French War had happened 
during this period, I do not find that any ob- 
jections were made to furnishmg the thirty-six 



36 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

men required for that service. Some who 
were drafted want willingly, others hired suh- 
stitutes. And what is remarkable, they all 
lived to return and unite with their friends in a 
General Thanksgiving held October 9, 1760, 
throughout the Province on account of the 
total reduction of Canada. 

Alas ! the people did not even dream that 
within a few years the French and the Ameri- 
cans would be unitedly engaged in a war with 
Great Britain in the struggle for Liberty and 
Independence. But the time of suffering draw- 
eth nigh. And it is hardly possible to imagine 
greater trials than were experienced here du- 
ring the most part of the next twenty-five 
years. Although our fathers, after the estab- 
lishment of the State, and the United States 
Government, were eminently a Law-abiding 
and Constitution loving people ; yet, up to the 
year 1765, and even later, King George the 
Third had no subjects more loyal than they 
were. But they well understood their rights 
and their privileges, both of a civil and of a re- 
ligious character. And at a very early day 
they unitedly determined that their liberty 
should not be wrested from them without a 
struggle. But they were not hasty in any of 
their movements. All their resolutions were 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. O I 

adopted with great care and deliberation. They 
sympathized with those whose trials were more 
severe than their own. Numerous votes on 
record in the Town Books, prove their patriot- 
ism. As early as March 3, 1766, an Address 
to the people of Boston, who were enduring 
great hardships on account of the unjust laws 
of the British Parliament, was adopted in town 
meeting, in which the inhabitants express their 
views pretty clearly upon the subject of civil 
and religious freedom, as the closing paragraph 
of that Address will abundantly show. " We 
must, we -can, and we will be free. We can- 
not part with our creation right. We are 
obliged forever to assert it as it is our glory to 
be in subjection to that Supreme Power that 
formed us free." If any other town in the 
Province, at a date so early, expressed their 
views more plainly in favor of freedom, I have 
yet to learn the fict. 

Another Resolution will show in what light 
the men of those days viewed tlie liberal arts 
and sciences as connected with civil and re- 
ligious liberty. 

" We feel ourselves most firmly obligated to 
plead in behalf of Liberty, because she is the 
most powerful and necessary patroness of lib- 
eral arts and sciences. It was doubtless on this 
4 



38 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

evident principle, that our worthy ancestors, 
choosing an A-merica.n Desart with Liberty, 
rather than the fair fields and gardens of their 
dear native land with slavery, erected a very 
few years, after the first settlement of Massa- 
chusetts, the famous Seminary of Harvard Col- 
lege in Cambridge, which now, for considerably 
more than a century, has been a great orna- 
ment and blessing' to New England, and other 
parts of the world. May that respectable Uni- 
versity under the benignant influence of Heaven 
be a plentiful source of true literature, liberty 
and virtue to the last period of time. We re- 
solve in our measure to be zealous promoters 
of learning and liberty united ; and now rec- 
ommend to our children and their successors 
forever, to follow our example and that of our 
memorable and venerable ancestors." 

Sept. 19, 1768. A Committee of three was 
chosen to meet others in Boston, on the dan- 
gerous situation t)f the country. 

Jan. 25, 1773. * Several votes were passed m 
town-meeting in approbation of the doings of 
the town of Boston on public grievances. 

Aug. 22, 177-i. A Committee of correspon- 
dence was chosen. Those Committees in the 
towns were a channel of intelligence, and a 
bond of union which proved of the utmost im- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 39 

portance to the general cause, and finally led 
to, the appointment of Deputies to meet in a 
General Congress. 

After the passage of the Act of Parliament 
for shutting up the Port of Boston, the Com- 
mittee appointed by the town " to take into 
consideration the present state of our distracted 
circumstances of a public nature, &c.," report 
as foll(»vs : 

" "^^"e are of the opinion, that as the Dele- 
gates from the several Colonies are soon to 
meet in Congress in order to point out and ad- 
vise what is best to be done at this alarming 
crisis, it will be most proper in us to wait until 
we are informed what measures they recom- 
mend before we come to any particular Pesolu- 
tions concerning the matter, except as follows : 

" 1st. That we will to the utmost of our abili- 
ties strictly and steadfastly pursue such meth- 
ods as shall be recommended by the said Con- 
gress as the most likely to recover our just 
rights and privileges. 

" 2d. That we will heartily endeavor as much 
as in us lays, to awaken and stir up every per- 
son to a thorough sense of the real certainty 
there now is of America being reduced to the 
most abject slavery and poverty ; and the dang- 
er there also is of the loss of our religious as 



40 PIISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

well as our ci\il rights and privileges, unless 
we unitedly endeavor, by a steady and manly 
opposition to prevent it. 

" 3d. We earnestly recommend it to tlie con- 
sideration of this town, whether it is not their 
indispensable duty to afford some relief to the 
industrious poor of the town of Boston who 
are really exposed to the most severe hardships 
by means of the late cruel Acts of Parliament. 

" 4th. AVe recommend Peace, firmness, and a 
manly fortitude, in asserting and maintaining, 
to the utmost of our abilities, all our just, law- 
ful, and Constitutional rights and privileges." 

Thomas Leggett, 
Israel jSTichols, 
Stephen Johnson, V Committee. 
John Joslin, Jr., j 
Thomas Gowing. J 
August, 27, 1774. 



After all other means to preserve the i-ights 
of freemen had been resorted to in vain, and it 
was found necessary to take up arms in defence 
of those rights, the inhabitants of this town 
were by no means backward in the cause. 

The following officers, non-commissioned of- 
ficers and privates marched immediately from 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



41 



their respective homes for Lexington on the 
alarm of the 19th of April, 1775: 



Captain, 
David Wilder, Leominster. 

Lieittcnunts, 
Joseph Bellows, Lunenburg, 
Thomas Harkness, do. 

Sergeants, 
Thomas Garfield, Fitchburg, 
John Lock, Ashburnham, 
Rufus Houghton, Leominster, 
Abijah Butler, do. 

Privates, 
Noah Dod'p;c, Lunenburg, 
Fhinehas Carter, do., 
Israel Wyman, do.. 



Richard Fowler, Lunenburg, 
Jonathan Martin, do.. 
David Kendall, Leominster, 
Josiali VVhitcorab, do. 
James Joslin, do. 

David Wilson, do. 

William Nichols, do. 
Ebenezer Stuart, do. 
Ephraim Buss, do. 

David Clarke, do. 

Josiah Colburn, do. 

Asa Kendall, do. 

Richard Stuart, do. 

Reuben Gates, do. 



A Comjpany was immediately enlisted into 
the Continental service for eight months in the 
twenty-third Regiment, under the command of 
Col. Asa Whitcomb, stationed on Prospect Hill, 
in Cambridge. So large a proportion of the 
Company belonged to this town, it may not be 
improper to present the names of all. Those 
in italics belonged to Ashburnham, Jonathan 
W. Smith to Westminster, and all the others 
to this town. Some of them continued in the 
army, by other enlistments, during the war. 
William Warner received a Captain's commis- 
sion, and under the law of 1818, obtained a pen- 
sion by which the last years of his life were 
rendered more comfortable than they otherwise 
would have been. 



42 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



Continental 23d Regiment of Foot, commanded bt 
Colonel Asa "Wiiitcomb. 



Capt. David "Wilder, 
Lieut. Jonathan Gates, 
Lieut. Timothy Boutelle, 



Co»imis»ioned April 19, 177'5. 



Sergeants^ 
Francis Lane, 
William Warner, 
Josiali Carter, 
Peter Joslin. 

Corporals. 
Levi Warner, 
Samuel Buss, 
James Butler, 
Jonathan Warren. 

Drummer. 
Thomas Rogers. 

FiFER. 

Abijah Haskell. 
Privates. 
CTiarles Fames, 
James Boutelle, 
Abel Bigelow, 
John Battles, 
Isaac Blodgett, 
Amos Brown, 
Levi Blood, 
Jonathan Colburn, 
Stephen Chase, 



Nathaniel Chapman, 
David Clark, 
Elisha Carter, 
Josiah Colburn, 
David Clark, Jr. 
Daniel Rdson, 
David Fleeman, 
John Farmer, 
Reuben Gates, 
Jotuithan Gates, Jr., 
Joshrta IJemancay, 
Henry Hall, 
Benjamin Hale, 
John Hale, 
Joshua Holt, 
David Hale, 
Luke Johnson, 
Jonathan Kendall, 
Jacob Kibberiyer, 
Asa Kendall, 
Amos Kendall, 
Philip Lock, 
John Lock, 



Ebenezer Osgood, 
Josh ua Pro loty, 
Asa Priest. 
David Jiol»?)son, 
Joseph Smith, 
Benjan^in Stearns, 
Zebedc%Simonds, 
John Stone, 
Samuel Salter, 
Aaron Sai)ipson, 
Othniel Taylor, 
Joshua White, 
Henry Winchester^ 
Samuel Willard, 
John Whitney, 
Isaac Whitmore, 
Josiah White, 
Fbenezer Wood,. 
James Wood, 
Philip Winter, 
Luke Wilson, 
Jacob Winter, 
Joseph Smith, Jr. 



All except eight enlisted April 19, 1775. 



PATRIOTISM. 

During the whole of that Revohitionary 
struggle the inhabitants of this to^vn complied 
with all the various and burdensome requisi- 
tions which from time to time were made upon 
them by the State authority. They were fre- 
quently called on to furnish men on short en- 
listments. And in 1777, in order to stop the 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 43 

progress of Gen. Biirgoync in his march from 
Canada, in addition to numerous yohmtcers, a 
whole Company went under the command of 
Capt. John Joslin, and were engaged in the 
Bennington battle ; and at the first fire received 
from the enemy, Thomas Joslin, the youngest 
brother of the Captain, was shot through the 
heart, and as he fell, had time only to say 
" I am a dead man. The Lord have inercy on 
m\) soul." A large proportion of those who 
volunteered, arrived on the ground only in sea- 
son to see the British army which had been 
conquered by Gen. Gates, march out and lay 
down their arms as prisoners of Avar. And, of 
course, they speedily returned with the joyful 
news to their families. On the 15 th of July, 
1776, the tow^n voted Independency of Great 
Britain, and a copy of the Declaration by Con- 
gi'ess is entered in the Town llecords. 

Nov. 29th, of the same year, the town voted 
to raise £1200 to pay for soldiers' services. 
March 20, 1776, tlie population had increased 
to one hundred and fifty-three families, and nine 
hundred and ninety souls, including ten ne- 
groes, averaging almost six and one half to a 
family, three fifths of whom were those who 
settled in town during the first ten or fifteen 
years, and their descendants. 



44 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Having seen the inefficiency of short enlist- 
ments, and the uncertain dependence to be 
placed upon the militia, Congress determined 
to raise an army of more permanency by requir- 
ing the enlistments to be for threo years. On 
the 24th of March, 1777, the town voted £500 
to x)ay those who should enlist for the three 
years, and the men were obtained without 
much trouble. John Joslin, John Buss, Levi 
Phelps, Edward Phelps, Levi Blood, Caleb 
Wood, Peter Joslin, Thomas Uobbins, Samuel 
Jones, Samuel Houghton ^and Samuel Rogers 
were among the number.* They "vvere in the 
Monmouth and some other battles ; but, with 
the exception of Peter Joslin and Samuel Rog- 
ers, they returned again to their friends. They 
were then young, but most of them lived to be 
aged men. Edward Phelps, the last survivoz', 
died in Stoddard, N. H., in 1851. Four of 
them remained in town and brought up families 
here. Dea. John Buss died in 1845, aged 
eighty-six years. The wife-j" ,of his young days 
survives him at the age of ninety-one. The 
town was also called upon to furnish provision 
and blankets as well as men. Jan. 20, 1777, 
it w^as Resolved by the House of Representa- 

*There were probably five others. 
{Mrs. Buss died June 37, 1852. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 45 

tives, " That there be five thousand blankets le- 
vied on the several towns and ^Dlantations in 
this State, in the several proportions as expressed 
in this schedule." 

Tlie number required of the County of AVor- 
cester was 665, and of the town of Leommster 
fifteen. 

Nov. 21, 1777. — Up to this date the inhab- 
itants of the town had not only complied with- 
out a murmur with all the requisitions that had 
been made upon them, but had also approved 
of the doings of the Legislature of the State. 
But in proof of their discernment as well as of 
tlieir hidcpendence of mind, at a meeting legal- 
ly held on the day above named, the town by 
vote disapproved of the Act of the General 
Court putting Bills of Public Credit on interest. 

And at a town-meeting held June 3, 1778, it 
was (substantially) " voted, that it is the opin- 
ion of this town that a llcmonstrancs be sent 
to inform the General Assembly that Ave have 
at all times sent our quota of men for the pub- 
lic service : but the great deficiency of many 
other towns in the State, of which we are fully 
convinced, has increased our burdens to such a 
degree, that we shaU not be able to furnish 
men at our own expense for the public service 
much longer, without involving ourselves in 



46 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

such a manner, that we shall be reduced to the 
greatest extremity," 

Whether the Remonstrance produced any ef- 
fect on the General Assembly or not is uncer- 
tain ; but the town was not called upon for any 
more soldiers until near the time the term of 
the first three years men was about to expire. 

At a town-meeting held Jan. 8, 1778, the 
Articles of Confederation were approved ; and 
at a subsequent meeting, June the 8th, the first 
Constitution was approved by this town twen- 
ty-one to ten ; but it was rejected by a majori- 
ty of the people of the State. 

In 1779, the town voted in favor of having 
a Constitution, and instructed the Representa- 
tive to vote for a Convention for the sole pur- 
pose of forming one ; and when it was sent out 
to the people for their action upon it, the vote 
of this town was three to one in its favor with 
certain amendments or alterations suggested by 
them. In August of 1779, the town raised 
£5,000 tax. 

By a Resolve of the House of Representa- 
tives, of September 25th, 1780, the towns in 
the State were required to furnish for the 
army 2,400,440 pounds of beef, or money to 
pay for that quantity. This town's proportion 
was 7200 pounds. And not only did the town 



HISTORY 0¥ LEOMINSTER. 47 

♦ comply with this and all other like requisi- 
tions, but they did actually pay for three hun- 
dred and thirty-four pounds more than their 
proportion. 

It is ^iossible, and indeed it is quite proba- 
ble, that in some subsequent State Tax, an al- 
lowance was made for the overplus. 

But tlie measure of their burdens was not 
5'et full. The term of the first three years men 
would expire in 1781. And the towns were 
required to furnish their respective quotas of 
men for another army whose enlistments should 
be for the term of three years, provided the war 
should continue so long. This town was not 
backward in complying Avith the requisition ; 
and in doing so it was divided into classes, 
each class to furnish a man and j)ay him. The 
contract made by one of those classes with the 
man hired, must suffice for insertion here. 

Leominster, April 10, 1781. 
I, the subscriber, do engage to serve in the 
(Jontmental army for three years unless sooner 
discharged, for the class of which Capt. Joshua 
Wood is the head, provided the class pays me 
two thousand dollars in paper money, or silver 
at the exchange, before I go, and eighteen three 
year old middling cattle, provided I stay Uvo 



48 HISTORY' OF LEOMINSTER. 

years and six months ; and if I stay one year 
and six months, said cattle are to be two years 
old ; and if I stay not one week, said cattle are 
to be one year old. Day id Joslin. 

Lancaster, April 12, 1781. 
Then passed muster, David Joslin, for a Con- 
tinental soldier for the term of three years, and 
for the town of Leominster and Capt. Joshua 
Wood's class. Before me, 

Wm. Dunsmoor, Must. Mast. 

There was no seal to the contract, neither 
%yas there on it the name of a witness ; but 
there was wrapped up in it, and still remains in 
it, a lock of hair which was undoubtedly cut 
from the young man's head to be left as a me- 
mento for his friends in case he should not re- 
turn. He was not quite sixteen years of age, 
a stripling and slender; and tradition says, 
that with his new, high-heeled shoes, and some 
extra under garments, he did but just pass 
muster : but that he made an excellent soldier, 
returned safely home at the close of the w^ar, 
and received of the class the eighteen young 
■ cattle according to agreement. 

Although a cessation of hostilities was an- 
nounced by Sir Guy Carleton on the 19th of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 49 

April, precisely eight yeriis after the Lexington 
battle, yet the army was not disbanded until 
the 18tli of October following. 

Joslin was an excellent discij)linarian, and 
was quite efficient, after his return from the 
army, in the organization of the militia of this 
town, under the laws of this Commonwealth. 
In due time he "was married, removed to Stod- 
dard, X. II., where he brought up a large fam- 
ily of children, and died April 9th, 1825, at the 
age of sixty years, lacking sixteen days. Two 
of his daughters, the widow Martha Pierce and 
the wife of Mr. Horace Richardson, reside here. 

But the cup of bitterness was not yet quite 
full. More men are called for. The town is 
again divided into classes. One of those class- 
es, comprehending all on the north-east side of 
the river, met "April 2, 1782, for the purpose 
of procurmg a man to serve as a soldier in the 
Continental army." They had hired their man, 
and voted to assess upon themselves the sum 
of seventy-two pounds to defray the expense, 
when, after having met by adjournment ten 
times between the said second of April, and 
the eighth of Xovember following, the joyful 
tidings of the surrender of the British army, at 
Yorktown, relieved them as they hoped, from 
any furtlier requisitions of men. — Truly those 



50 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

were times that not only " tried men's souls," 
but drained them of their worldly substance 
also. Nor were the men the only ones who 
had their trials. The women also were great 
sufferers. The hardships which some of them 
endured are almost incredible. In the absence 
of their husbands, sickness and death prevailed 
in their families. They w^ere at times nearly 
destitute of the necessaries of life. And in some 
instances their courage also was put to the se- 
verest test. One example among many must 
suffice. Two men who enlisted for the first 
eight months had married sisters. The elder 
had four little children, and the younger had 
one. For their comfort, during the absence of 
their husbands, they resided in the same house. 
A thoughtless, [possilly mischievous) man in 
the neighborhood circulated a report that the 
Regulars were marching into the country with 
the determination to kill the wives and children 
of all the men who had enlisted and gone to 
Cambridge. And although the two sisters hard- 
ly credited the report, yet, that they might have 
some weapons on hand that would prove more 
effectual than a " bread-shovel," they carried in 
an axe, a sledge hammer, and two pitch-forks, 
and placed them under their beds with a deter- 
mined resolution that, if " the Eed Coats " did 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 51 

come, they would defend themselves and their 
little ones in the best way they could. It so 
happened, however, that they had no occasion 
for the defensive use of those weapons ; hut they 
probably would not ha^e been considered greatly 
blame-worthy if they had "forked" that foolish 
neighbor a little. 

At the commencement of the Revolutionary 
war there were some instances in which there 
was more of patriotism than prudence. On the 
19th of April, 1775, a young man by the name 
of Joshua White, was crossing the mill-pond in 
a boat with two ladies. And while he stopped 
to listen to the alarm guns that were being fired 
in the middle of the town, the current had 
drifted them so near the dam that there was no 
escape ; there was but just time to turn the 
boat end foremost, and o\ev they all went into 
the water below. 

But White being strong, and meeting no harm, 
lie took a Miss Wheelock under .each arm, 
And carried them both safely ashore, 
Then bid them good bye and said nothing more; 
But hastening home he snatched his gun, 
And travelled off for Lexington. 

In another case a man by the name of Levi 
Woods was plowing in the field with a yoke of 
oxen and a horse, who, on hearing the guns. 



52 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

left the oxen with a small boy, mounted his 
horse, and, Avith his gun in hand, rode to Con^- 
cord, turned his horse out to find his way home, 
and he marched on to Cambridge. And hav- 
ing served some time in the war, he died at 
home in 1779. 

Numerous other instances of true patriotism 
might be named, but the above must suffice. 

Although the men of this town were loyal 
subjects to their King before the Eevolution, 
yet, during the whole time of the struggle for 
Independence, no one was accused, or even sus- 
pected of being a Tory, or unfriendly to the 
cause. And although there were none here 
who had been honored by any office of trust be- 
yond that of Justice of the Peace, yet there 
were those, and there are still some, who could 
claim relationship to those on whom the title 
of nobility had been conferred. Mr. James Si- 
monds, one of the early settlers, owned the firm 
on which Mr. Timothy Warner now lives. 
Among five or six other of his children, were 
the late Mr. John Simonds, and Abigail, the 
wife of the late Bezalcol Lawrence, Esq. This 
James Simonds had a sister, who became the 
wife of a man by the name of Thompson. They 
had a son Benjamin, born in Ilumford, now 
Concord, N. H. Benjamin married a widow 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 53 

l^dy of that town, by the name of Rolfe, and Ly 
her he had a daughter, an only child. 

At the commencement of the trouhles be- 
tween Great Britain and America, Thompson 
was suspected and accused of Toryism, at which 
he took offence, and left his family and his 
country. He went first to England, where he 
was highly flattered by tlie notice taken of him 
there. He afterwards resided some time in Ba- 
varia, and while there the title of Count Rum- 
ford was conferred upon him. Subsequently 
he, sent for his daughter, who, after spending 
many years in Paris and other places in Europe, 
returned again to this country, and now resides 
in Concord, her nati'se town. She must be over 
seventy-five years of age, and has never been 
married. She is supposed to be v^ry rich, hav- 
ing for many years enjoyed a part of the pen- 
sion formerly settled upon her father ; but 
whether in the disjjosal of her wealth, this Hon- 
orable Countess will remember her distant rela- 
tives in this town, remains to be settled.* 

Peace having been concluded, and the Inde- 
pendency acknowledged, the inhabitants of this 
town now had time to reflect upon the past, 

• The Countess died Dec, 1852, at Concord, aged 78, leaving 
something like $40,000 fur charitable purposes in her native 
town. 



54 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

and look forward to the future. And witli re- 
gard to the past, it must have been hio-hly grat- 
ifying to tliem to know that they had faithfully 
and punctually performed their whole duty. 
They had fully complied with all the requisi- 
tions that had been made upon them by the 
Government, and even more. And they had 
the consolation also of knowing that all of 
those who, from time to time, had been in the 
army during tl\ose eight years of hard struggle, 
with only two or three exceptions, lived to re- 
turn again to their friends. But in looking 
forward to the future, they coidd not but per- 
ceive that the days would be evil. This Com- 
monwealth, as well as this town, had furnished 
more than their proportion in men and in 
money ; and there was no authority to compel 
other States to make due allowance. People 
were greatly involved in debt. There was but 
little gold or silver coin in circulation, and pa- 
per money and public securities had become 
nearly worthless. But even rmder all these un- 
favorable circumstances, the men of this town 
generally sustained their credit and honestly 
paid their debts. Some few, however, who 
sold their farms and took their pay in paper 
money, were ruined. 

To show the uncertain value of what was 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



DO 



then the circiilatiiiG^ medium, I shall insert 
here a scale of depreciation, "which I have found 
among some old papers, and which it may be 
well to preserve, as an evidence of the difficul- 
ties with wliich our fathers had to contend. 



SCALE OF DEPRECIATION. 

Agreeable to an Act of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, to be 
observed as a Rule for settling the rate on contracts made since Jan. 1, 
1777. SlOO in gold and Silver, in Jan., 1777, being equal to ^IlOo in 
the Bills of the Credit of the United States. 



1778 



1779 



1780 



1777 January, 
February, 
March, 
i| January, 
. February, 
March, 
January, 
February, 
March, ' 
January, 



^105 1 April, 

107May, 

lOOiJune, 

32.3'April, 

SoOjMay, ■ 

37o,June, 

742 April, 

868Mav, 
1000 j Julie, 
2934!Februarv, 



5112 

115 

120 

400 

400 

400 

1104 

121-5 

1342 

3322! 



•July, 5125 

August, 150 

September, 175 
July, 4251 

August, 450J 
September, 475 
July, 1477; 

August, 1630: 
September, ISOOJ 
March. 37361 



October, 

November, 

December, 

October, 

November, 

December, 

October, 

November, 

December, 

April, 



,?275 

300 

310 

500 

545 

634 

2030 

2308 

2.593 

4000 



From April 1st to 20th, 1780, one Spanish milled dollar was equal 
to forty of the old Emission. 

1780 April 2oth, 42 May 20th, 54,. Tune 20th, 69iNov. 30th, 74 

" 30th, 44 " 25th, 60 August 15th, 70 February 27th. 

May 5th, 46 " 30th, 62 Sept. 10th, 711781, 76 

" 10th, 47 June 10th, 64 October 15th, 72 

" 15th, 49 " loth, 68lNov. 10th, 73 

DEPRECIATION OF THE NEW EMISSION. 

From the 27th of Feb., 1781, to the 1st of May following, 1 3-8 of a 
dollar of the said New Emission was equal to one dollar in specie. 
From the 1st to 25th of May, 2 1-4 New Emission was equal to one 
in specie. From 25th of May to the 15th of June, three of New Emis- 
sion forgone in specie. From 15th of June to 1st of October, four of 
New Emission for one in specie. 

Although the inhabitants of this town had 
sustained themselves in a remarkable degree in 
the trials through which they had passed, yet it 
was far otherwise in many other towns, and es- 



56 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

pecially in the County of "Worcester, and what 
was then the okl County of Hampshire. Taxes 
were exceedingly high. Many suits were 
brought acrainst individuals for debt, and land 
and goods were seized and sacrificed on sale. 
In 1784 and 1785, nearly 4000 actions were 
entered in the County of Worcester, with a 
population less than fifty thousand. Great pre- 
judices existed against the Courts. And so 
general was the dissatisfaction that at length it 
manifested itself in open rebellion to the laws 
of the Statc; But nevertheless, the inhabitants 
of this town maintained their integrity by firm- 
ly sustaining the Government. In the year 
1786, a man by the name of Daniel Shays, with 
thirteen writs upon his back for debt, assem- 
bled an armed mob to stop the Courts, and sent 
his message to the Judges of the Supreme 
Court, then about to hold their session at 
Springfield, ordering them not to open their 
Court nor indite the rebels. About the same 
time another body of the disaffected had col- 
lected to stop the Court of Common Pleas, at 
Worcester. Under these alarming circumstan- 
ces, the militia were notified (even on Sunday) 
to assemble at an early hour the next morning, 
at the meeting-house. They assembled accord-_ 
ingly, and not only adopted resolutions disap- 



HISTORY OF LEOiriNSTER. 57 

proving- of mobs and riots, but a goodly num- 
ber volunteered to march at a moment's warn- 
ing. And in two or three days afterwards, a 
company under the command of Captain J^evi 
Warner, did march as far as Shrewsbury, (now 
"West Boylston,) and there received orders to re- 
turn home, as the Insurgents had assembled to 
the number of a thousand, and the Court had 
adjourned. 

The Commander in Chief ordered out a de- 
tachment of the militia under the command of 
Major General Lincoln. The head quarters of 
one portion of the detachment were at Spring- 
field under the command of Brig. Gen. Shep- 
herd, and the other at Barre, under Gen. War- 
ner. This to^Yn had no difficultv in furnishinjr 
its quota of men ; and two of the officers also 
resided here, ^iz : Ensign John Buss and ]Ma- 
jor Timothy Boutcll, the latter of whom, early 
in January, 1787, was promoted to the rank of 
Colonel. The Insurgents were encamped at 
Petersham. And on that intensely cold night, 
when so many of the soldiers were frozen on 
the march, Col. B. led the advanced guard, and 
arrived in Petersham sufficiently early to sur- 
prise the rebels in their beds, who all surren- 
dered without a shot, and without a struggle. 

In Springfield the attack of Shays on Gen. 



58 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Shepherd was made in the afternoon of January 
25th, 1787. Shepherd had given notice to 
Gen. Shays that if he approached within a cer- 
tain distance of the Court-house his men would 
be fired upon. Shays, however, paid no regard 
to the notice, but marched on and had passed 
the forbidden point. After two shots purposely 
in a direction to do the rebels no harm, at the 
third fire three of them fell dead upon the spot, 
others were wounded, and the whole then fled 
precipitately without firing a gun. And that 
was the end of Shays' rebellion. Those who 
went from this town to sustain the laws (and 
none were among the Insurgents) all returned 
home in peace and saftity, and with the con- 
sciousness of having discharged an incumbent 
duty. Col. B. acquired great credit for the 
tact and skill which he exhibited on that trying 
occasion, and for many years afterwards contin- 
ued to be the commander of the reoimcnt. En- 
sign Buss was soon promoted, and for some time 
was the Captain of the South company in this 
town. 

The next trial through which the inhabitants 
of this town were called to pass was of a politi- 
cal character. It was no less than to form a 
Constitution, or enact a supreme law, by which 
all the States, and all the people in the several 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 59 

States, should be governed. It was no easy 
matter to frame an instrument that woukl con- 
fer a sufficient degree of power on a United 
States Government, and at the same time not 
deprive individual States of a portion of their 
Constitutional rights and privileges. But a 
Constitution was framed and sent out to the 
several States for their action upon it. And in 
a Convention of delegates chosen by the towns 
in this Commonwealth assembled in Boston, in 
1788, after mature deliberation, that Constitu- 
tion was adopted by a small majority, the dele- 
gate from this town voting in tlie affirmative. 
Since the close of the first half century of the 
town's existence as a corporation, but few 
events have occurred in which the patriotism 
of the iiihabitants has been put to the test 
On the ground that obstructions imposed on 
commerce might injuriously affect the agricul- 
tural and other interests essential to their pros- 
perity and happiness, they voted in town-meet- 
ing to petition the President to remove the Em- 
bargo of 1808, or call Congress together. And 
in the last war with Great Britain, when there 
was thought to be some danger of an invasion, 
the spirit of '75 was manifested by a vote to 
pay those who were detached into the military 
service at South Boston in 1814. And even at 



60 HISTORY OF LE0MI]S8TER. 

the present day, should their iDolitical rights and 
privileges be infringed, a "vast majority of the 
inhabitants of this town would, doubtless, at 
once stand forth in the defence of freedom, and 
to sustain the laws, and support the Constitu- 
tion, both of this Commonwealth and of the 
United States. 

General George Washington, the first Pres- 
ident of the United States, after an illness of 
only two or three days, died at !Mount ^"ernon, 
Dec. 14, 1799, in the 68th year of his age. 

On the third day of February, A. D. 1800, 
under an Article: To see what measures the 
town will take to commemorate the death of 
the late General George Washington, or act or 
^ do thereon as they shall think proper, the town 
voted that they would adopt measures to com- 
memorate his death, and chose a Committee 
Cronsisting of Thomas Legate, Esq., Dr. Thomas 
, Gowing, Major David Wilder, Mr. John Si- 
monds, Wm. Nichols, Esq., Col. Timothy Bout- 
ell, Capt. Ephraim Lincoln, Mr. Michael New- 
haU and Capt. Thomas Legate, to make arrange- 
ments and carry the vote into effect. And thus 
authorized, the Committee made their arrange- 
ments for the twenty-second of February, the 
anniversary birth-day of him whose sudden and 
lamented death was to be commemorated. The 



HISTORY OP LEOMINSTER. 61 

tlircc military companies — the seven winter 
scliools preceded by their respective teachers — 
and the inhabitants of the town generally, 
moved in slow and solemn procession into the 
mectinij^-house and were seated. The house 
was densely filled. The pnlpit was shrouded 
in black. A most comprehensive and fervent 
prayer was offered up to the Supreme Being by 
the Eev. Francis Gardner. Several pieces of 
appropriate music were performed by the clioir 
and a eulogy was pronounced by Doctor T)aii- 
iel Adams, then a practising physician in this 
town, and now a resident of Keene, in the State 
of Xcw Hampshire. The most perfect order 
prevailed from the beginning to the end — the 
performances were all of a high character — and 
the deep impressions made upon the minds of 
tliose j)re9ent have probably never been obliter- 
ated. 

At a town-meeting subsequently held, a Com- 
mittee was chosen " to return the thanks of 
this toAvn to Doctor Daniel Adams for the ele- 
gant and patriotic oration, delivered by him in 
commemoration of the death of General George 
Washington, and to request a copy thereof for 
the press." 

The town voted an appropriation sufficient 

to defrav the expenses of printing the oration, 
6* 



62 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

and directed the Committee to furnish every 
family in town with a copy of it, and Doctor 
Adams and the Rev. Francis Gardner with fif- 
ty copies each. Doctor Adams was a graduate 
of Dartmouth College in 1797, and received 
the degree of Bachelor of Medicine from that 
Institution in 1799, and Doctor of Medicine in 
1822. He was a native of Townsend, and mar- 
ried the daughter of Doctor Mulliken of that 
place. 



ROADS. 

In February, 1734, after many of the lots 
had been surveyed and located by the proprie- 
tors, a road was laid out and established by the 
town of Lancaster, passing along by "White's 
Pond, and over the Follansbee Hill through the 
easterly part of what is now the North Village, 
and then in a Northerly direction to Lunen- 
burg line on the West side of Chualoom Pond. 
It was five rods wide and with great propriety 
was called the " broad road." On the first of 
October, 1740, a road, commencing at the river, 
about four rods above the dam of Ebenezer 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 63 

Wilder s mill-pond, live rods wide, was laid out, 
running straight into the " broad road" a little 
North of John Bennett's log house to the bridge 
over the little brook. On the sixteenth of De- 
cember, IT-iO, a road was laid out frofti Oliver 
Carter s, running through the land of Jonathan, 
Rufus and Ebenezer Houghton to Josiah 
White's saw-mill on the Monoosnock Brook. 
Numerous other private ways in various direc- 
tions, to the lines of the adjoining towns, were 
early laid out and established. In 1751 a pri- 
vate way was laid out from the great bridge 
(across the mill-pond above mentioned) to the 
meeting-house. It does not appear, however, 
that this road was accepted by the town ; nor 
was it necessary, because in the following year 
a County road was established from the centre 
of Lunenburg, through a part of the " broad 
road," crossing the mill-pond, and over this 
same private way to the meefing-house, and so 
on over Bee Hill, and almost all the other high 
hills to the town of Worcester. And it is not 
vet twcntv-five years smce the traveller in that 
direction has been able to avoid the steep as- 
cent and descent of Bee Hill by taking another 
road, judiciously located by the County Commis- 
sioners, a little to the West of it. For many 
years the principal road to the centre of this 



64 HISTORY or LEOMINSTER. 

town, from the North and West, was oyer the 
pine hmd West of the river. 

But after improAements began to be made in 
the location of roads, two w^ere so established 
in other towns as to bring the Northern and 
Western travel into this town near the foot of 
the North Monoosnock, thence through what is 
now called West street, and then on the old 
Lancaster road. Highways have now been lo- 
cated through the town in almost every direction, 
and they are generally kept in such a state of re- 
pair as not to suffer by a comparison with the 
roads in other towns. 

The repairs ha^e been made by a tax on prop- 
erty, generally paid in labor and m.aterials by 
the inhabitants in the several surveyor districts, 
into which the town is divided ; but in some 
instances of late years it has been by a money 
tax, expended under the direction of the Sur- 
veyors or a Conifnittee. 1'he sum annually 
raised for many years has, with few exceptions, 
been $'800, but for the year. 1851 it was in- 
creased to )flOOO. 

Connected with the common roads in this 
town, there are three bridges over the Nashua 
River, and a dozen or more across the IMonoos- 
nock Brook and other smaller streams ; and to 
rebuild and keep these bridges in repair for ten 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. G5 

years past has required, in addition to the higli- 
way tax, the average annual amount of $200. 
Instead of wood, the town has adopted the more 
economical plan of building them of stone, and 
probably the time is not far distant when all 
the principal bridges will have been constructed 
either of Monoosnock, or some other granite. 



TURMKES. 

In New York, the canal fever has had a reg- 
ular run, and in this Commonwealth, many 
years ago, the turnpike fever prevailed very ex- 
tensively ; and as it was contagious, a consider- 
able number of perons in this town, caught it, 
or rather got caught by it. 

More than forty years since, for the purpose 
of uniting the fifth Massachusetts and the Con- 
cord Turnpikes, a charter was obtained to con- 
struct one from the foot of the North Monoos- 
nock Hill to Concord, called the Union Turn- 
pike. It was not contemplated that it should 
be strictly an " Air-Line,'' but the object was 
to go as nearly straight as circumstances would 
permit ; and in the location the ascent and de- 



66 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

scent of the ground was pretty much out of the 
question. It passed over the Nichols Hill, the 
Follansbee Hill, and down the steep descents 
beyond, into Farm Meadow, and so on over the 
Harvard Hill, to the end. It was a well made 
road, but the traveller found it was no farther, 
and a great deal easier, to go round the base, 
than over the top of certain summits, and there- 
fore the old road was preferred. In a few years 
the shares became nearly or quite worthless, to 
the great injury, and even to the ruin of some 
who held them. Eventually one portion of the 
turnpike was converted into a County road, 
while another portion of it in this town still re- 
mains, as a monument of the folly of laying out 
roads over high hills and through deep valleys, 
merely for the purpose of making the line a 
straight one. 



KAIL ROADS. 

On the 3d of March, 1842, a charter was 
granted by the General Court, whereby N. F. 
Cunningham, a native of the adjoining town of 
Lunenburg, Abel Phelps and Alvah Crocker, 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. G7 

two native sons of this town, but residing, the 
one in Boston and the other in Fitchburgf, to- 
gether with other business and perseverinir men, 
were authorized to construct a rail road from 
Charlestown Ihrough the Northeasterly part of 
this town to Fitcliburg. The capital stock (not 
to exceed .'^1,5()(),0()()) was taken up, and gen- 
erally by those who were able to pay, the road 
was judiciously located and thoroughly made, 
the land damages were seasonably and honora- 
bly adjusted, and in little less than three years, 
viz: m the forenoon of Feb. 10, 1845, the road 
was opened, the "iron steed" came puffing, 
snorting and smoking along, and the joyful 
sound of the whistle was heard for the first 
time at .the depot in the North Village, by the 
multitude there assembled as witnesses. 

At that moment an important change took 
place in relation to the temporal affairs of the 
inhabitants of this town. From that moment 
we were placed within two hour's ride of the 
city of Boston. Since then men and their fam- 
ilies may breakfast at home, go to the city and 
transact business, or dine with and visit their 
friends, and be home to tea. Truly, as was 
written by another on a very different subject 
'' Old things are passed away : behold, all things 
arc become new." 



68 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

April 22, 1852. For four days the rain has 
been pouring clown, and caused an unusual 
flood; but while on the Vermont and Massa- 
chusetts Rail Road, the Cheshire, and others in 
the vicinity, the bridges have been swept away, 
and other damage done, the Fitchburg and the 
Fitchburg and AVorcester roads are unharmed. 

In 1847, a charter was granted for the Fitch- 
burg and Worcester Railroad. This road runs 
on the West side of the river through the whole 
length of the town from the North to the South- 
east, taking the centre in its course, and unites 
with the Worcester and Nashua road a little 
south of the Washacum Pond, in Sterling. This 
road was opened for passengers in Feb. 1850, 
and affords every facility for those who wish to 
2:0 to Worcester, and in a direction South and 
West from that place; and also to Fitchburg, 
and from thence both West and North. 

There are at present but few country towns 
better accommodated with railroad facilities 
than this. Already a great change has taken 
place in the business affairs of the town, and 
whether it is eventually to be for the better or 
for the worse, remains yet to be settled. And 
60 it does also whether the railroads shall con- 
tinue to be good property for the stockholders, 
or whether thcv are to share the same fate of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. G9 

some of the old turnpikes. AVe hope for the 
best. At any rate, mere selfishness prompts to 
a desire that the evil day, if it ^miist ever come, 
may be put off for a season, for it is very pleas- 
ant for an old man, when he has nothing else 
to do, to sit at his window, and see from twenty 
to twenty-five trains of cars passing back and 
forth each of six days in the week, and none 
on the seventh, or the dav of rest. 



SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL HOUSES. 

In his eighth annual Report to the Board of 
Education, the Hon. Horace Mann, in reference 
to " The distribution of School moneys among 
Districts," ex]ircsses his views in the following 
apropriate terms : — " This subject is intimately 
connected with that great doctrine of republi- 
can equality, which constitutes our prmciple, 
our boast and our hope. 

" With the exception, perhaps of a dozen 
towns, all the rest in the State, are divided 
geographically into school districts. Provision 
for the territorial sub-division of our towns was 
first made by the statute of 1789, the germ of 



TO HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

which was in the Province Law, 8 geo. 3, 
eh. 309. I consider this, beyond comparison, 
the most pernicious law ever passed in this 
Commonwealth, on the subject of schools. 
" Other things being equal, or, making due 
allowance for inequality in other things, the 
schools are now invariably the best, in those 
towns, which are not divided into districts, but 
in which the school system is administered by 
the town, in its corporate capacity. The 
reasons for this are obvious and numerous. 
In cases where the schools are maintained by 
the town, in its corporate cajiacity, it is obvi- 
ous that every section of the town would be 
treated substantially alike. No portion of the 
inhabitants would contribute, for any length of 
time, to pay for benefits from whose participa- 
tion they were debarred." " Were the w^hole 
town responsible in its corporate capacity, for 
the whole of the schools within it, the inhabi- 
tants of no town would ever think of, the in- 
habitants of no section of any town would ever 
submit to, a school of only three or four 
months in a year, while other parts were enjoy- 
ing a school for ten months, or for the whole 
year." " In fine, if towns, as such, were to 
administer the school system within their re- 
spective limits, the great principle of repub- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 71 

lican equality would have an unobstructed 
sphere of action, and would yield its harvest 
of beneficent fruits. A few towns, it is true, 
have abolished their district organization, and 
reverted to the ancient system." 

This is one of the excepted towns. It has 
never been di\ided into those little corporate 
bodies called school districts in any legal sense 
of the word. But, during a jieriod of more 
than one hundred years, the school system has 
been admmistered upon the plan so highly 
commended by the late Secretary of the Board 
of Education. The town, in its corporate ca- 
pacity, has erected all the school-houses, raised 
all the money, hired the teachers, by their se- 
lectmen, or committees, and paid them. There 
never has existed, in any one portion of the 
town, any legal authority, except what has 
been temporarily conferred by the whole town, 
to take one single step, or to perform one 
smgle act, in relation to the public schools. 
And if this town has not raised so great an 
amount of money annually as has been raised 
in some other towns, it does not follow that 
the youth generally have not been as well ed- 
ucated. But on the contrary, the very fact 
that it has, for so great a proportion of the 
time, been equally distributed to, and expended 



10 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



ill all parts of the town clearly proves, accord- 
ing to Mr. M.'s opinion, that the children here 
have enjoyed superior advantages. 

The first money voted by the town for the 
support of schools was in December, 1747. 
The sum was ten pounds, and Jonathan Wil- 
son was authorized to hire the master. 

The first school-house was erected in 1749,^ 
ftt an expense of £'35. It was 24 by 18 feet, 
located near the first meeting-house, and built 
under the superintendence of Gershom Hougli- 
ton, Thomns Wilder, and Nathaniel Carter, 
('ommittee. 

The first woman school provided for by the 
town, was in 1752, and the amount appropria- 
ted was £'3.6.8. In l'«55, £8 were appropria-* 
ted for a writing school, at the school-house. 
And m 1757, £T5 were raised to be expended 
111 three places. 

Tlie average amount annually appropriated 
for the 'support of schools for the first twenty 
years from 1747j and while there was but one 
school-house, was about forty dollars, expend- 
ed under the direction sometimes of the select- 
men, and at others by a committee specially 
appointed for the purpose. In 1766, the toT^n 
was sued for not keeping a grammar school. 
In those days all who could read by spelling 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. to 

the words", had a right to go to the grammar 
schooh 

III ^larch, 1767, it was voted to divide the 
town into three parts for schooling, and Thom- 
as Legate, Jonathan AVhite, and James Rich- 
ardson, were appointed a Committee to make 
the division. Voted to raise £'-10 for schooling, 
and £66.13.4, to build school-houses, and 
choose three men in each third part of tlio 
town, to superintend the work. Four new 
school houses were erected, there being two for 
tlie South third part. 

So heavy were the burdens of the inhabitants 
of tliis town during the Revolution, that for 
several years they raised no money for schools. 
One, among many, of the sad effects of war. 

In 1 768, the town voted £33.6.8 ; in '71, £10 ; 
in '73, £35; in '76, £55; school to be four 
months in each third part of the town, und.r 
tlie du'ection of a Committee t)f three in each 
part. In January, 1775, they voted not to 
raise school tnoney ; but in May following, £100 
were voted to be expended by the Selectmen in 
schooling by masters. In 1779, £350 wer« 
raised as an additional sum for supporting the 
schools two months in each third part. And in 
1 780 the sum of £2000 was raised to defray the 
expense of six months man school, and six 
7 



74 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

montlis woman school. About this time those 
living on the hills in the West xmrt of tlie town 
were allowed, for a few years, to draw their 
prox3ortion of school money, and expend it 
among themselves. From 1784 to 1790, the 
amount raised for schools ranged from £'50 up 
to £100 annually. In 1791 an Article inserted 
for the jiurpose, was referred to a large Com- 
mittee, who subsequently reported that the 
town should be divided into seven Districts, to 
be called Wards; and their report was accepted. 
And in 1792, under an Article inserted for the 
purpose, the inhabitants refused to re-consider 
the vote whereby the town was divided into 
Wards. This settled the matter, and since that 
time, the word District has been altogether inap- 
plicable to the schools, and should not be used. 
And down to 1820, it was not used, nor was it 
to be found on the Uecords. These Wards 
were not formed*by metes and bounds, as is re- 
quisite in a legally constituted school District, 
but merel^ by designating the persons who 
should send their children here or there. 

In 1822, a vote was passed, that the town 
should not be divided into school Districts ac- 
cording to law. 

In 1791, the town chose a Joint Committee, 
consisting of the Selectmen and one from each 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. <D 

Ward, to provide teachers. They also voted 
£210 to defray the expense of buildmg seven 
new school-houses. 

In 1793, the sum raised for the support of 
schools, was £120 ; in '94, £150 ; in '95, £165 ; 
and the same in 1T96. From 1796 to 1803, 
inclusive, the sum was $666 annually, ,^600 
distributed equally among six wards, and $66 to 
the seventh. In 1804 and five .^^700 Avere raised 
and equally divided. In the March Meeting 
Warrant for 1806, the following article was in- 
serted, viz : I'o see if the town will make any 
addition to the number of school wards in said 
town, build any new school houses, make any 
alterations in the school wards, or act anything 
thereon. 

The above article was referred to a commit- 
tee of one from 'each ward, viz : Metaphor 
Chase, Wm. Nichols, Wm. Burrage, Jr., John 
Divol, Jr., Edward TiOw, John Buss, and James 
Boutell, who according to their instructions, at 
the' adjourned meeting in April made their re- 
port, which was as follows : 

" To the Moderator and Inhabitants of the. 
Town of Leominster in Town meeting assem..- 
bled April 7, 1808. 

" That, in our opinion, a new Ward to be de- 
nominated Ward No. 8, the house of which to 



7b HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

be placed near Mr. Alpiicus Stuart's, and to be 
composed of the folloAving families, would be 
the best means for the present, for the town to 
pursue .in order to relieve some of their schools 
from the extra number of scholars which at- 
tend them, and would be most conducive to 
tlie interest and harmony of the town. 

Respectfully suhmlttedhy order of Committee. 
M. Chase, Chairman. 

" Sanil Waters, Asa Johnson, Jonathan Cum- 
mings, Alpheus Stuart, Joseph Hide, AVidow 
Wilder, Benjamin Johnson, Pliny Colburn, 
Joseph Tenney, Nathaniel Colburn, Thomas 
Lincoln, John Chase, Philip Freeman, Asa 
Carter, ^Stephen Johnson, Jr., Jonas Fiske, 
"W^illiam Lincoln, Jr., '^^"arren Carter, Smith 
Hills, Josiah Whitcomb, Samuel Bowers, Wid- 
ow Priest, and Silas Carter.*' 

Which being read it was voted to accept 
tliereof with the addition of the following fam- 
ilies, viz : Joel Brigham, Silas Hills, Joseph 
Johnson, and such other families as the town 
may vote to annex to said Ward. 

And under an Article inserted for the pur- 
pose tn the next ^lay ^Meeting Warrant, the 
town voted to raise the sum of ,S"250, for the 
pu.rpose of building a School-house, in Ward 
No. 8, and chose Calvin Hale, Jolfti Simonds. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 77 

Jacob Fullum, Thomas Lincoln, and John 
Buss, a Committee to direet the manner of 
building said School-house, and ordered the 
Selectmen to purchase a spot of land for said 
School-house to stand on, agreeably to the re- 
port of the Committee accepted in April last. 

From 1806 to 1815 inclusive, the sums voted 
for Schools was ^800 equally divided among 
the eight Wards. In 1816, the^sum of ,$'800 
was equally distributed, and an additional sum 
of 3100 as the ' Selectmen might determine. 
In 1817, the sum voted was ^800, and the 
three following }ears $900 equally divided, as 
was the sum of $800, for 1821-2-3. In 1821, 
S800 Avere equally distributed, and $75 in 
different i^roportions among the Wards. For 
the next ten or twelve years, the sum annually 
was $800 equally, and $100 unequally divided 
among the Wards. 

From 1837 to 1848 inclusive, the sum an- 
nually raised for Schools was $1200, with the 
exception of one year when it was only $1000, 
and of another year ^r^ien it was $1300. Du- 
ring these twelve years, No. 7, the smallest 
Ward m town, in point of numbers, was divi- 
ded ; in No. 1, the population was more than 
doubled ; with a view of classifying the schol- 
ars, union Schools had been kept in several 



78 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

parts of the town ; and some other changes 
were made the effect of which has been (wheth- 
er for good or for evil remains to be tested,) to 
derange, if not entirely to destroy, the former 
mode of distributing the school money equally 
to every portion of the town. 

During this period also a new Yv^ard was 
established, being No. 10, and a new house 
erected in modern style, and at a cost, including 
the site, of about $900. And a new house 
was also erected in No. 5, and another in No. 
8, at about the same expense for each. And 
since then, expensive new houses have been 
erected in Nos. 1, 3, and 6, and a ten month's 
school maintained for the whole town. In 
1849, the sum raised for schools was ^1500, — 
in 1850, ;§fl900, and in 1851, p,150. And 
the same sum for 1852, 

By the judicious system with which the 
Schools in this town have been administered 
from the first, not only have the evils of Dis- 
trict corporations been avoided ; but the tow^n 
has, in several instances, by its votes, antici- 
pated the action of the General Court in the 
good effects produced by the provisions of cer- 
tain school laws which the Hon. Horace Mann 
would not venture to call " pernicious." 

During the first half century of the town's 



HISTORY OF LEOMI>'STER. 79 

existence, the books used in the Schools were 
too few, the Bible, the Psalter, and Dilworth's 
Spelling Book, being the principal ones. But 
during the first part of the last half century, 
they became too numerous. Almost every 
teacher would introduce some new ones. And 
they were not alike in hardly any two Wards 
in town. The Schools were examined once in 
a year, viz : at the close of the wmter term, by 
the Clergyman, and the Selectmen. The law 
authorizing towns to choose a Committee for 
the special purpose of inspecting the Schools, 
was not imperative till 1826. But at the sug- 
gestion of an individual of the town who, from 
the year 1799, was employed as a teacher five 
or six years in one of the Schools, an Article 
was inserted in a Warrant for town-meeting, 
under which a School Committee was chosen ; 
and at the suggestion of the same indi\idual 
that Committee, and their successors, visited 
the winter Schools at the commencement as 
well as at the close, and, in both instances, 
took the books into their own hands, selected 
the lessons, and made a most thorough exam- 
ination, and with the most beneficial effects on 
the School. This was as early as 1803. And 
under another Article, the School Committee 
were authorized to i)rcscribe what books should 



80 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

be used in the several Schools, and hence they 
became uniform throughout the town. And 
about the same time, Registers somewhat sim- 
ilar to those now required by law, were intro- 
duced into the Schools with good effect. 

A list of those who have served on the School 
Committee. For many years they received no 
pecuniary compensation : 

1803. Dr. Daniel Adams, Abijah Bigclow, 
Esq., Jonas Kendall, Esq. 

1804. D. Adams, A. Bigelow, J. Kendall. 

1805. A. Bigelow, Asa Johnson, Esq., Rev. 
Francis Gardner, David Wilder, J. Kendall. 

1806. Rev. F. Gardner, A. Johnson, D. 
Wilder. 

1807. Rev. F. Gardner, A. Johnson, D. 
Wilder. 

1808. A. Johnson, D. Wilder, A. Bigelow. 

1809. F. Gardner, A. Johnson, Josiah Rich- 
ardson, D. Wilder, Bezaleel Lawrence Esq. 

1810. F. Gardner, A. Bigelow, J. Kendall, 
D. Wilder, Joshua Chase. 

1811. J. Kendall, D. Wilder, J. Crosby, J. 
Richardson, Wm. Perry, Esq. 

1812. D. Wilder. J. Richardson, Wm. Per- 
ry. 

1813. D'. Wilder, Caleb Barton, Wm. Per- 
ry. 



mSTORY OF LEOMLNSTER. 81 

18U. Wm. Perry, J. Crosby, J. Kendall 
1815. Wm. Perry, Daniel Fuller, Josliua 

Chase. 

181G. Per. Wm. Bascom, A. Bigelow, J. 

J. Picliardson. 

1817. Wm. Bascom, D. Wilder, Doct A. 
Haskell, Daniel Gates, Horace Pichardson. 

1818. W. Bascom, Doct. C. ^V. ■\^'ilder, Jo- 
seph G. Kendall, D. Wilder, D. Gates.' 

1819. Wm. Bascom, D. Wilder, C. W. 
A\'ilder, Wm. Perry, D. Gates. 

1820. D. AA^ilder, C. W. Wilder, ■\^rm. Per- 
ry, Jonas H. .Kendall, Leonard Burrage. 

1821. Rev. Abel Conant, D. Wilder, Levi 
Nichols, J. H. Kendall, L. Burrage. 

1822. A. Conant, D. Wilder, Levi Xichols, 
J. n. Kendall, H. Pichardson. 

1823. A. Conant, D. AYilder, L. Xichols, J. 
II. Kendall, H. Pichardson. 

1824 A. Conant, Wm. Perry, Doct. A. 
Haskell, Jr., J. II. Kendall, H. Picliardson. 

1825. A. Conant, J. G. Kendall, Doctor 
Tho. P. Boutelle, J. H. Kendall, L. Burrage. 

1826. A. Conant, Philip Payson, T. P. 
Boutelle, J. H. Kendall, J. G. Kendall. 

1827. A. Conant, T. P. Boutelle, Solon Car- 
ter, J. H. Kendall, J. G. Kendall. 

1828. A. Conant, Solon Carter, T. P. Bout- 
elle. 



82 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

1829. A. Conant, David Wilder, Charles 
W. Wilder. 

1830. A. Conant, J. J. Taylor, Alansou J. 
Whitcomb. 

1831. A. Conant, A. J. Whitcomb, T. R. 
Boutelle, Solon Carter, J. H. Kendall. 

1832. A. Conant, S. Glover, J. H. Kendall, 
S. Carter, A. J. Whitcomb. 

1833.' A. Conant, S. Glover, J. G. Kendall, 
S. Carter, D. Wilder. 

1834. A. Conant, C. W. AVilder, S. Carter, 
A. J. Whitcomb, Dr. Albert Smith. 

1835. A. Conant, C. W. Wilder, S. Carter, 
Kev. O. G. Hubbard, Albert Smith. 

183G. A. Conant, C. W. Wilder, S. Carter, 
O. G. Hubbard, A. Smith. 

1837. O. G. Hubbard, C. W! Wilder, S. 
Carter, A. Smith, Sumner L. Carter. 

1838. Eev. R. P. Stebbins, O. G. Hubbard, 
Hev. Moses Harrington, C. W. Wilder, C. C. 
Field. 

1839. R P. Stebbins, O. G. Hubbard, M. 
Harrington, C. W. Wilder, Dr. C. C. Field. 

1840. O. G. Hubbard, M. Harrington, C. 
W. Wilder, C. C. Field, Rev. John C. Good- 
ridg6. 

1841. O. G. Hubbard, R. P. Stebbins, C. C. 
Field, Solon Ci^'ter, C. W. Wilder. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 83 

1842. O. G. Hubbard, R. P. Stebbins, C. 
W. Wilder, C. C. Field, S. Carter. 

1843. O. G. Hubbard, R. P. Stebbins, C. 
W. AVilder, C. C. Field, S. Carter. 

1844. 11. P. Stebbins, O. G. Hubbard, C. 
^y. ^yMeY, C. C. FieUl, S. Carter. 

1845. O. G. Hubbard, Pev. Hiram With- 
ington, C. C. Field, A. J. Whitcomb, Joel W. 
Fletcher. 

1846. O. G. Hubbard, H. Withington, 
Ilev. J. C. Carpenter, J. M. Burrage, Alanson 
Richardson. 

1847. O. G. Hubbard, H. Withington, C. 
^y. wilder, C. C. Field, S. Carter. 

1848. O. G. Hubbard, H. Withington, C. 
W. Wnder, C. C. Field, S. Carter. 

1849. O. G. Hubbard, Rev. Amos Smith, 
C. C. Field. 

1850. O. G. Hubbard, A. Smith, Rev. S. 
Tupper, C. C. Field, Dr. G. W. Pierce. 

1851. O. G. Hubbard, A. Smith, Rev. A. M. 
Swain, C. C. Field, G. W. Pierce. 

1852. A. Smith, A. M. Swain, C. C. Field, 
G. W. Pierce, Charles H. Merriam, Esq. 

And although there have been some failures 
on the part of the -teafchers, yet, at least for 
sixty-five years past, the town has been pe- 
culiarly fortunate m this particular. 



84 HISTORY or LEOMIxXSTEft. 

Among the Collcgiatcs wlio have since bc- 
CQinc distinguislicd Loth as scholars and theo- 
logians, the following Reverend gentlemen may 
be mentioned, viz : Messrs. Appleton, the Pres- 
ident of Bowdoin College, — Woods, a Profess- 
or at Andover, — Emerson, Lincoln, Kendall, 
Mason, Allen, Huntington, Thomas, Uphani, 
Clark and Hill. And among those who did 
not enter upon the ministry are Messrs. Smi- 
ley, Brown, Pillsbury, Buttrick, Butterfield, 
Colburn, Carter and Kent. 

Of those who were not collegiates, but who 
were apt to teach, aniong many others may be 
named Messrs. SamL C. and C. W. Wilder, J 
Ivichardson, O. Kendall, Wyman, Whitcomb, 
Ciiiter, Graham, Chase and Grout. 

But without the least disparagement to oth- 
ers, it may be truly said, that of all tliose who 
have had charge of the common public schools 
in this town, as teachers, for the last sixty 
years, none have been more thorough, syste- 
matic, and successful in their teaching, than 
the " Author of Colburn's Arithmetic," and 
our native-born citizen, James G. Carter. And 
to them, probably more than to any other two 
individuals, are the people of this Common- 
wealth indebted for the establishment of the 
Noi-mal Schools, and of the Board of Educa- 



History of leominster. 85 

tion. And it was the opinion of some, I think 
I may say not a few, that Mr. Carter was hy 
far the most snitahle person to have been ap- 
pointed the first Secretary of that Board. His 
\-iews upon some of the most important qnes- 
tions were probably not materially different 
from those entertained by the present Secretai-y 
of the Board. 

Althongh the young in this place have en- 
joyed such peculiar advantages in relation to the 
schools, yet the parents have- frequently sent 
their sons and their daughters, and others un- 
der tlieir care, out of town to academies and 
other useful seminaries of learning^. 

The Lawrence Academy at Groton, vras in- 
coporated in 1793, and the catalogue for 1848 
contains the'names of no less than forty-six per- 
sons from this town, who, in their younger days, 
attended school at that institution. And the 
names of a great many others may be found in 
the catalogues of similar institutions, not only 
in the vicinity, but also at a distance, and cacu 
in other States. 

The nimibcr of young men educated at the 
colleges would seem, at first view, to be small ; 
and yet, when compared with those in the ad- 
joining towns, all circumstances considered, it 
is more than an avera^-e. The followins: is be- 
8 



1763. 


Jonathan White, 


1. 


1824 


1773. 


Manasseh Smith, 


2. 


1829 




Charles Stearns, 


3. 


1830 


1776. 


John Roffers, 


4. 




1783. 


Alphens Moore, 


5. 




1793. 


Francis Gardner, 


6. 




1800. 


Timothy Boutelle, 


7. 


1825 


1806. 


Caleb Boutelle, 


8. 


1778. 


1810. 


Joseph G. Kendall, 


9. 


1829. 


1813. 


Charles II. Chase, 


10. 


1831. 


1819. 


Walter R. Johnson 


11. 




1820. 


James%. Carter, 


12. 





86 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

lieved to be a correct list of all the g-raduates 
from this town. Those who were graduated at 
Harvard University are chronologically arrang- 
ed. Those in italics are dead. 



Charles H. Carter, 13. 
John James Taylor, 14. 
Henry Lincoln, 15. 



John liitrraqe, IG. 

Salmon Bichardsoti, 17. 
Thomas Boutelle, 18. 
Artemas A. Wood, 19. 



NOTES ON THE FOREGOING LIST. 

1. A son of Col. Jonathan White did not 
study a profession, and left town in the Ilevo- 
lutionary war. 

2. A son of Abijah Smith, Counsellor at 
liaw, in Maine. 

3. A son of Thomas Stearns, Minister of 
the town of Lincoln, author of the " Philoso- 
phy of Love," and " Dramatic Dialogues." 

4. Son of the first Minister, and a Physician 
in Plymouth, N. H. 

5. Son of the second wife of Mr. Mark 
Lincoln. 

6. Son of the second Minister, Counsellor 
at Law, in Walpole, in New Hampshire, and a 
Eepresentative in Congress. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 87 

7. A soil of Col. T. Boutclle, Coimscllor at 
Law, in Watcrvillc, Mc, where he still resides 
in the 74tli year of his age. He has been 
much in public life, having served at least a 
dozen years as Senator and Representative in 
the Legislature of that State, — was a member 
of the Electoral College for President in 181(j, 
and is at present one of the " Board of Trus- 
tees," of Waterville College, and from it has re- 
ceived the Degree of L. L. D. 

8. A brother of Timothy, Physician, died 
in Plymouth, 1819. 

9. A son of Hon. Jonas Kendall, Counsel- 
lor at Law, Representative in Congress, &c., 
Szc, Clerk of the Courts for the County of 
Worcester, died in AVorcester, 1847, universal- 
ly lamented 

10. A son of -Maj. Metaphor Chase, Mer- 
chant in Baltimore, Md. 

11. A grandson of the Hev. John Rogers, 
Professor of Chemical and Natural Philosophy, 
in the Pennsylvania College, resides in Wash- 
mgtou, D. C, in the employment of the U. S. 
Government. 

12. Son of Capt. James Carter, resided in 
Lancaster, — Instructor of Youth, Justice of the 
Peace, Senator and Representative in General 
Court, died in IS-ls, " 



88 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

13. Brother of James, and resides in Athol. 

14. Son of Mr. John Taylor, Comisellor at 
Law, in Owego, N. Y. 

15. Son of Mr. William Lincohi, Physician 
in Lancaster. 

16. Son of Capt. J. Bnrrage, (B. U.) Coun- 
sellor at Law, Representative, died in 1820. 

17. Son of Maj. James Richardson, (D. U.) 
School Teacher, stutUed no profession. 

18. Son of Mr. James Boutelle, (A. C.) 
Minister at Plymouth, and now in Bath, X. IT. 

19. Son of Artemas Wood, (A. C.) Minis- 
ter, first in West Siiringfield, married a daugh- 
ter of the Hon. Samuel Lothrop, of that town, 
and is now a ]\linister in the city of jSTew A'ork. 

And iri addition to those who have received 
a Degree at some College, and have left the 
town, vast numbers of others, educated princi- 
pally, and not a few of them wholly, at our com- 
mon schools, have gone out from us into all 
parts of the country. Go which way you will, 
North or South, East or West, far or near, and 
you will be pretty likely to find some c^f the 
native sons of this town working their way 
along among the ' multitude, hi their various 
professions, trades and employments. Not a 
few of them have been entrusted with offices 
of trust and responsibility in Corporations, in 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 89 

Towns and Cities, in Counties, in tlie Common- 
wealth, and in other States. A good propor- 
tion of them have hcen successful in business, 
and have even become wealthy. Many of the 
citizens of Boston were born here. A number 
of years ago, one of them took it into his head 
to invite a Leominster party, and went so far 
as to begin to write down names ; but soon 
found, that although his house was very spa- 
cious, " it was a cjreat deal too little" to accom- 
modate his fellow natives, and he relinquished 
his design. It would occupy too much space 
to mention one tenth of those who, even during 
the last sixty-five years, have left their nati\e 
town and gone elsewhere. Among them are 
the names of Allen, Burrage, BoutcUe, Burditt, 
Carter, Crocker, Conant, Darling, Gardner, 
Hills, Haws, Joslin, Johnson, Kendall, Low, 
Legate, Lincoln, Murdoch, Nichols, Phelps, 
Pierce, Bichardson, Bugg, Stearns, Snow, Taiiit- 
er, Tyler, Wood, and AVilder. 

Soon after the adoption of the United States 
Constitution, a post office was established in 
this town, and the late Asa Johnson, Esq., was 
appointed the first Postmaster. He was suc- 
ceeded by Mr. Charles Prentiss, for two or 
three years, and then John Gardner, Esq., was 
the postmaster about twenty years. His sue- 



90 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

cesser was the late Mr. John Kendall. The 
present accommodating and faithfnl incumhent 
was first appointed October 1, 1833. In 1851 
an additional post oflice was established near 
the Fitchbnrg Rail Road depot, called the 
" North Leominster," and Mr. Wm. F. Howe 
appointed postmaster. 

For many years the post-riders brought from 
Boston two mails in a week ; afterwards there 
were three by stage-coach ; and now, from all 
directions, we have in both offices six mails a 
day by railroad, besides the news by telegraph. 
By a statement in the Worcester Magazine for 
1826, it appears that at that time there v>ere 
but six post offices m the County' of Worcester 
that yielded a nett revenue to the United States 
Government greater tlian tlie one in this town, 
it being then ^113,88. From a particular ac- 
count, kindly furnished me by Mr. C. H. Col- 
burn, it appears that the balance accruing to 
the Government annually on the 30th of Sep- 
tember, since the first of October, 1833, has 
been as follows, viz : 



In 1834, 


^•304,1.5. 


" 1835, 


304,70. 


" 1836,. 


33-5,73. 


;•' 1837, 


353,03. 


" 1838. 


348,59. 


" 1839, 


384,35. 


" 1840, 


420,23. 



In 1848, g658,56. 

" 1849, 767,92. 

" 1850, 934,01. 

" 1851, 839,40. 

March 31, 1852, 161,92. 



In 1841, £451, 07. 

1842, 492,99. 

1843, 510,35. 

1844, 515,34. 

1845, 625,52. 

1846, 504,84. 
1947, 574,39. Total, ^388,29 

To which add the baUuioe due and paid by the North 

Post Otace since it was established in 1S51, lu2,08. 

and the whole amount of revenue to the P. 0. Dep't will be ,^9520,37. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 91 



PRINTING. 

The " jRural Iiejmsitori/" a weekly sheet by 
Charles Prentiss, was commenced in this town 
October 22, 1795, and the publication closed in 
about eighteen months. 

The " Political Foais,'' by Charles and John 
Prentiss, was commenced in June, 1798, and 
closed Xovember 28, 1799. John Prentiss 
left the town in March, 1799, and commenced 
the New Hampshire Sentinel, at Keene, which 
he conducted with great ability and good suc- 
cess, for forty-eight years, and which is now 
published by his son. 

" The Telescope,'' by Adams and Wilder, 
edited by the former, was commenced January 
2, 1800, and the publication ceased, for want 
of due encouragement, October 14, 1802. The 
subscriptions to neither of the papers exceeded 
five or six hundred, and the advertising and job 
patronage was small. Charles Prentiss pub- 
lished a volume of his own " Essays," in prose 
and poetry, the " Philosophy of Love," a poem 
by the late Rev. Charles Stearns, of Lincoln, 
Mass. Also a thick 12mo. volume of " Dram- 
atic Dialogues," by the same author. He pub- 



92 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

lished also several miscellaneous volumes for 
himself and others, and kept a small assortment 
of hooks and stationery, with a bindery attached. 

Doctor Adams published two or three edi- 
tions of his " Scholar s xirithmetic," and his 
" Understanding Eeader," two valuable school 
books, while he resided in this town. Among 
the Doctor's other works are the " Monitorial 
Header," " Mental Arithmetic,'' "Book-keeping" 
and " Mensuration." Doctor Adams now re- 
sides in Kcene, and, at the age of seventy-sev- 
en, enjoys comfortable health. Mr. J. Prentiss 
is also there, and, apparently, in the vigor of 
manhood. It was a misfortune to this town 
that two such men should leave it. 

Mr. Salmon Wilder, the partner of Doctor 
Adams, contmued for a time to do job printing 
in this town, and then removed to New Ipswich. 

Mr. J. Prentiss purchased the copy-right of • 
the Scholar's Arithmetic, about the year 1806 
or 1807, and published large editions until the 
year 1828, when, to meet the demands of the 
age, he engaged the author to revise it. From 
that time to 1848, large stereotype editions 
were published by him of this new 12mo. work, 
" Adams' New Arithmetic." Again the de- 
mands required a revision, and it has been 
since published by J. W. Prentiss & Co., " Re- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 93 

vised Edition," miicli enlarged and improved. 

Messrs. Cliaiies and John l^rentiss were the 
sons of the Rev.. Caleb Prentiss, of Reading, 
and the elder was graduated at Harvard Uni- 
versity in 1795. He taught one of the schools 
in this town the winter preceding. 

A Mr. Ephraiin A\ ilder opened a Bookstore 
here about the year 18();3 ; but, although the 
inhabitants generally at that time were fond of 
reading, he did not meet with sufficient en- 
couragement to induce him to remain long. 

A Social Library of choice books had jn-evi- 
ously been established in this town. An Asso- 
ciation called " The Institute," was formed 
herein 181 (S ; and in 18-17, "The Lyceum" 
was organized. The funds for the commence- 
ment of a Library were obtained at a tea-party 
given by the ladies in January, 18-18. And ui 
"that year the three Libraries were united into 
one, and now comprise nearly or quite seven 
hundred volumes of useful and entertahiing 
books. 



91 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



REPRESENTATIVES. ^ 

List of Representatives chosen to the Gen- 
eral Court, from the first on record : 



1774. Israel Nichols. 

1777. J. Joslin & Israel Nichols. 

1780. Israel Nichols. 

Oct. Thos. Legate, 1st under the 

Constitution. 
1783, 'i, -0. Israel Nichols. 

1786. Timothv Boutelle.. 

1787, '8. David Wilder. 
1789, '91. Israel Nichols. 
1793. Timothy Boutelle. 
179.5. Thomas Legate, Jr. 
1796, '7, '8. Thomas Gowing. 
1800, '1, '3, '4, '5; '6. Jonas 

Kendall. 
1S07, 8. Abijah Bigelow. 

1809. A. Bigelow & D. Wilder, Jr. 

1810. D. Wilder, Jr., § Joel 
Crosby. 

1811. '12. D. Wilder, Jr., and 
Benjamin Perkins. 

1813. David Wilder, Jr., and 
B. Lawrence. 

1814. Joel Crosby and B. 
Lawrence. 

ISlo, '16, '17. Bczaleel Lawrence. 

1818. Joel Crosbv. 

1S19. J. Crosby & B. Lawrence. 

1820. Bezaleel Lawrence. 

1821. Jonas Kendall. 



1824, '5. William Perry. 

1826. Joel Crosbv. 

1827. Joel Crosby and D. Wilder. 

1828. D. AVilder and J. Crosbv. 

1829. J. Crosby .Sf Wilder Car"ter. 

1830. W. Carter "& Chas. Grout. 

1831. W. Carter & Chas. Grout. 

1831. November. Wilder Carter 
and Carter Gates. 

1832. L. Burrage and C. Grout. 

1833. D. Wilder and C. Gates. 

1834. D. Wilder and 0. Gates. 
183.5, February. P. S. Burditt. 
183.5. C. Gates and P. S. Burditt. 

1836. P. S. Burditt and Charles, 
W. Wilder. 

1837. Charles W. Wilder. 

Jabez B. Low. 

Rufus Kendall & C. Hills. 

Charles Hills. 

Charles Hills. 

1842, '3, '4. Leonard Burrage. 
1845. Charles W. Wilder. 

James Burditt. 

Charles W. Wilder. 

Charles W. Wilder. 

Solon Carter 

George S. Burrage. 

Joel Crosby Allen, 



1838. 
1839. 
1840. 
1841. 



1846. 
1847. 
1848. 
1849. 
1850. 
18-51. 



HISTORY or LEOMINSTER. 



95 



The following persons, during their residence 
here, have been chosen or ai^pointed to offices 
others than those conferred by the to"svn : 





CORONERS. 




JUSTICES OF THE PEACE 


ITSl. 


Mnvk Lincoln. 


1811. 


Michael Newhall. 


17S2. 


Jolm Sinionds. 




John Kendall. 


1792. 


Bezalcel Lawrence. 


1819. 


Williiini Ferry. 


ISIO. 


Abel Carter. 




Levi Nichols.' 


1811. 


Daniel Newhall. 


1826. 


AVilliam Wilder. 


1826. 


William Wilder. 


1837. 


Charles Grout. 


1850. 


William H. Young. 


18,39. 


Charles W. Wilder. 




JUSTICES OF T}IE PEACE. 


1814. 


Leonard Burrage. 


1788. 


AVilliam Nichols. 




Solon Carter. 


1803. 


John Gardner. 


1818. 


William A. Nichols. 


1810. 


Joel Crosby. 




Joel W. Fletcher. 




Bezaleel Lawrence. 


1849. 


Noah R. Harlow . 




Asa Johnson. 


18.51. 


Merritt Wood. 






18.32. 


Charles H. Merriam. 



JUSTICES OF THE PEACE. 

1801. Jonas JCendall, subsequently Quo- 
rum, and throughout the Commonwealth, Spe- 
cial Jus. C. Sessions, and was Senator, Coun- 
sellor, and R,eprescntatiye in Congress. 

1809. Solomon Strong, J. C. C. Pleas, Quo- 
rum, and' throughout Commonwealth, Senator. 

1809. Abijah Bigelow, Quorum, Represen- 
tative in Congress, and Clerk of the Courts. 

1817. David Wilder, the Quorum, through- 
out Commonwealth, Comr. Highways, Senator, 
Counsellor, Treasurer of the Commonwealth. 



96 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

1827. Joseph G. Kendall, of tlie Quorum, 
Master in Chancery, Senator, Representative in 
Congress, and Clerk of the Courts. 

1804. Lovell Walker, Quorum. 

1826. Charles G. Trentiss, Eegister of Tro- 
bate. 

1781. Israel Nichols, Quorum and Senator. 

. Thomas Legate, Quorum. 

The last two gentlemen and Thomas Wilder, 
were in connnission previous to the adoption of 
the Constitution in 1780. In 177.1:, Israel 
Nichols was chosen a member of the County 
Convention at Worcester, and also to attend 
the General Court at Salem. And Thomas 
Legate was chosen to the Provincial Conven- 
tion at Concord. 

While Judge Strong resided in Westminster 
previous to 1817, he was one of the Senators 
for A'S'orcester County, and also a llepresenta- 
tive in Congress. He was a son of Judge 
Simeon Strong, and was graduated at Williams 
College, in 1798, in the eighteenth year of his 
age. 

The Hon. Lovell AYalkcr was a graduate of 
Dartmouth College in 1794. He was a Coun- 
sellor at Law, and, initil within a few years pre- 
vious to his death, resided in Templeton. And 
while there he was for several years a member 
of the Senate of the Commonwealth. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 97 

Tlie widow of Judge Strong, a lineal des- 
cendant from Philip Sweetser and James llicli- 
ardson, two of the early settlers, and Mrs. 
Walker, formerly a Miss Loring, of Hingham, 
and an aunt to the Rev. A. Young, D. D.. of 
Boston, botli continue to reside here. 



MEDICAL PRACTITI OXERS. 

For nearly fifty years after the town was in- 
corporated, there was but one Physician in it 
at a time. The Eev. John Rogers, the first 
mmister, purchased the firm on which he lived 
and died, and which is now owned by M. D. 
Richardson, of a Doctor Howard ; but it is 
doubtful whether he ever had any practice 
here. 

Doctor Jacob Peabody was in town as early 
as 1746. He lived on the place now owned by 
William B. Hosmer, and died in 1759. His 
wife was the eldest sister of Mr. Rogers. He 
had a son Jacob, who was many years a Physi- 
cian in Exeter, N. H.. And this son had a 
daughter by the name of Eunice, who became 
the wife of Phinehas Carter, of Lunenburg, and 
9 



1)8 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

lieiice his son Thomas, who now resides in that 
toAvn, came into the possession of the hible 
which belonged to his ancestor, the Eev. John 
]^ogers, the martyr, and of whicli an account is 
given, by the Eev. H. P. Stebbins, in his Cen- 
tennial Discourse. 

Doctor Thomas Gowing, from Lynn, suc- 
ceeded Dr. Peabody. After a careful and suc- 
cessful practice of about forty years, he died in 
tlie year 1800, aged sixty-six. He lived on the 
farm now owned by John Babcock, and erected 
that house before my remembrance. He took 
a lively interest in the welfare of the schools, 
and all other praisc-Vv'orthy objects. He pur- 
chased at Yv'orcester the first copy of " Perry's 
Dictionary" that was owned in town. He mar- 
ried the yougest daughter of James Eichardson, 
one of the early settlers. A niece of his was 
the wife of the late Hon. Jonas Kendall. His 
only child, a well educated lady for those days, 
became the wife of the late Col. Israel Nichols. 
We were not only school-mates, but also class- 
mates, and she would kindly allow me to use 
the new dictionary occasionally, until my father 
purchased the second copy that was brought 
into town. Mrs. Nichols died^January 1, 1852, 
in the 74th year of her age. 

To Doctor Gowmg, and others who were co- 



HISTORY OF LEO-MINSTER. 99 

temporary with him, as well as to some of the 
first settlers, are the inhabitants of this town 
greatly indebted, for the order and regularity 
with whicli their municipal affairs have gener- 
ally been managed, for a long period of years. 

About the year 1790, Doctor Silas Allen es- 
tablislied himself here. At first he lived on the 
place that had been occupied by Doctor Pea- 
body ; but in due time he built a new house 
near the centre of the town. lie was a careful 
practitioner, and accumulated a handsome estate. 
He died August 13, 1840. His first wife was 
the sister of the Eev. P. Thurston, for some 
years minister of St. Johnsbury, Vt., and who 
died in this town. They had three sons and 
two daughters, who lived to be men and women, 
and the dauo:hters, and several of the orand- 
children, continue to reside here. 

In 1792 or '3, Doctor Ebenezer Learned, a 
graduate of Harvard College in 1787, came in- 
to tills town and tarried a year or two. He 
taught a private school much to the satisfaction 
of both parents and pupils ; but not finding 
sufficient encouragement as a physician, he went 
into Xew Hampshire, where he became distin- 
guished in his profession, and lived to a good 
old age. 

In 1799, Doctor Daniel Adams, of whom 



100 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

more is said in another place, came into town. 
He was a graduate of Dartmouth College in 
1797. 

About the year 1817, the town came very 
near having at least one too many of those who 
profess to " cure the ills which human flesh is 
heir to." There was Doctor Richard Ransom 
Smith and his son, Jerome Yan Crowningshield, 
who now resides in the city of Eoston — Abra- 
ham Haskell, senior, then the most skillful 
practitioner in the County of Worcester, and 
wdtli him, either as a student or a partner, the 
late Charles W. Wilder, who by his persevering 
efforts, and his extensive 2:)ractice, made himself 
eminent in his profession — Doctor Silas Allen, 
before mentioned, and another by the name of 
Wilder, of Avhom modesty requires that but 
very little should be said here. Under these 
circumstances, there came along a young gen- 
tleman in search of a place to establish himself 
as a physician, and put up for the night at one of 
the taverns. In the course of the evening he 
was very inquisitive, and among other questions 
asked the landlord (who, by the way, was a 
great lo^^er of fun) how many doctors thgre 
were in town ? The answer was as follows, 
" ~\\"cll, we have not yet so many that we begin 
to feed the hogs with them, but I don't know' 



HISTORY OF LEOMIMSTER. 101 

how soon we mav have." The voiino- ocntle- 
man rode off next morning, an^l it is not known 
that he has ever been in toM ii since. 

Snhscquently, and at different periods, Doc- 
tors Albert Smith and Thomas 11. Boutelle re- 
sided here several years ; but, for reasons best 
known to themselves, they also went away. 
Their ancestors were amoni^ tlie early settlers 
Ircre. Doctor B. is a g-reat-grandson of Dea, 
James Boutelle, the first of the name who came 
to this town, and Doctor S. sustains the same 
relation to the late Hon. Israel Xicliols. The 
latter resides in Peterboro', N. li., his native 
town, and the former in the town of Fitchburo-, 
where he continues to enjoy an extensive and 
a successful practice. Doctor B., on the nmter- 
ual side, is also great-grandson of Jonathan 
Carter and James Richardson, two other of th(? 
first settlers, and also great ^^r<?«^grandson of 
Peter Joslin, of Lancaster, before mentioned, 
his great-grandmother being a sister of John 
Joslin, another of the early settlers in this 
town. 

At present there are some half dozen in town 
to whom the title of Doctor is given. Several 
of them have been Avell educated, and have 
gone through _a regular course of medical 
studies. Caleb C. Field was a graduate of Am- 



102 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

herst College in 1833, and he and John Heard, 
as class-mates, received their medical degree at 
Dartmouth ColleG^e in 1838. Georc^e W. Pierce 
received his at Harvard College in 1846. And 
I understand the dentists also are well skilled 
in their branch of the profession. And there is 
my aged friend Doctor Richardson, by the 
many " gentle rubs" he has given, has done 
less hurt, and more good, than some peopie 
may imagine. They all appear to take an in- 
terest in the general welfare of the town. Two 
of them are faithful members of the school 
committee, and seem to be anxious that the 
rising generation should be well educated. I 
wish them all a good and comfortable li"s ing, 
and trust they will continue to reside here un- 
til the whole x^eople, by a prudent and temper- 
ate course of life, shall have become so perfectly 
sound and healthy, that medical practitioners 
will find no employment in the line of their 
profession. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 103 



LEGAL PROFESSION. 

With regard to the legal profession, the town 
has hccn highly fixvor/id. For nearly the "svholc 
of the first half century there was no la-vvyer 
here. The first who established himself as an 
Attorney in this place, was Asa Johnson. 

" This very singular man was born in the 
town of Bolton, in this State, and, was actually 
engaged in the naval service of his country in 
the revolution ; — was a prisoner some consid- 
erable time at Halifax, but finally liberated, 
and in a second cruise, obtained prize money 
enough to educate himself at the University of 
Harvard, for which he had a great desire ; he 
was classmate with the Hon. John Quincy Ad- 
ams, now President of the United States. 

For many years he practised law in Leomin- 
ster, but never arose to a degree of eminence in 
his profession which many of his contempora- 
ries have enjoyed ; yet his reputation, as an 
upright attorney, was proverbial. He. was a 
classical scholar, and a tolerable linguist ; but 
his eccentricities form the most memorable 
items. He lived and died a bachelor; kept 
house twenty years, and in the whole time 
never was known to eat from an earthen plate, 



10-4 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

in his own house ; his table was constantly 
furnished with wooden trenchers. Disgusting 
as it may appear, he has been known to cook 
a cat, owls, hawks, and various reptiles, and to 
invite visitants to partake, of his rare dish. He 
was the father of a young lady whom he ed- 
ucated with paternal fondness, yet he would 
never alloAV her to call him fatlier ; it must on 
all occasions, be " Mr. Johnson." Not having 
married to meet his views, she was partially 
discarded ; but her death, soon after, appeared 
to affect him, although he resolutely declared 
that he had not the smallest anxiety for her, 
after she had disobeyed his injunctions in mat- 
rimony. 

Johnson had many original notions, peculiar 
to himself; in spelling his own name he never 
inserted an h, but v/rote simply in this manner, 
Jonson ; because the h v>'as an unnecessary let- 
ter, while his brothers and family connections 
used it. Several times in life he attempted to 
domesticate frogs, toads and serpents, and suc- 
ceeded so wonderfully, as to ha\c them, in a 
field, come at his call. A cat was his constant 
office companion, which was named after some 
statesman, for whom he had a peculiar regard ; 
one cat succeeded another, and generally bore 
the name of its predecessor. 



HISTORY Oy LEOMINSTER. • 105 

For a repartee, lie had few equals ; as a 
specimen of his talents, this circumstance, 
which is said to have taken place at a hoarding 
house in Worcester, is recorded. 

A young mellow-headed lawyer .sitting in 
company with Johnson, who was surround- 
ed with counsellors, thinking to put him to a 
blush, asked hitn if he had ever eaten a dish of 
stewed poUywogs^ having been informed that he 
had a relish for dis2;ustin2^ rarities \ Johnson 
answered in the negative, and said he did not 
think they would injure him, however, if he 
should ; but observed to his interrogator, that 
it would be a rumous meal for him. " Why V 
said the lawyer, " because," answered Johnson, 
" it is a well known fact that 2^oIh/wor/s will 
kill goslings." Johnson was fond of good 
li-ving, and the society of literary persons ; he 
was remarkably polite, and among ladies, pleas- 
ing and agreeable in conversation. Above all, 
it is to be regretted that he lived, and died as 
he lived, a professed atheist ; he welcomed 
death as an unaccountable something that 
would annihilate his soul forever. 

At one time in his life he was worth a good 
interest ; but at the close of it, his prox^ensity 
for gaming and other concomitant habits, 
stripped him of his possessions. in a few years. 



106 • HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

He died of debility, on Sunday, August 13th, 
1820, in his sixty-third year, a pensioner of the 
United States." 

The above biographical sketch of Mr. John- 
son was published in the Boston News Letter, 
about twenty-ii^e years ago, and must have 
been written by some one who had been well 
acquainted with him. Although the course of 
life which he led, could not, as a whole, conmiend 
itself to the consciences of sober-minded men, 
yet there were many good traits in his char- 
acter. He was kind to the poor. He was 
not inclined to encourage litigation merely for 
the sake of pocketing a fee.- He was a charnj- 
ing singer, and did much to improve the church 
music in this place. He was strictly an hon- 
est man, and for several years was Town Trea- 
surer, and an efficient member of the school 
committee. And although I shall not vouch 
for the fact, yet it is strongly impressed upon 
my mind, that, towards the close of his life, he 
not only expressed doubts whether the course 
which he had pursued with regard to religious 
and moral subjects was the true one ; but even 
went so far, a day or two before his death, as 
to say, " I have been a wicked man." 

In 1797 or '98, Abijah Bigelow, from "West- 
miiister, came into town and opened an office. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 107 

He was a well-read lawyer, a safe counselor, 
and a successful practitioner. Quite a number 
of young- gentlemen read law in his office, sev- 
eral of whom afterwards became distinguished 
in the profession.* He continued here until 
he was appointed Clerk of the Courts, in 1817, 
and then removed to Worcester, where he now 
resides, and although far advanced in life, still 
attends to the business of his profession. He 
was a graduate of Dart. Col. in 1795. 

William Ferry and Joseph G. Kendall, na- 
tives of this town, and students in Mr. Bigelow's 
office, succeeded him and ]\lr. Johnson. Mr. 
Perry died in August, 1844. Mr. Kendall re- 
mained here till 1833, when he was appointed 
Clerk of the Courts in the room of Mr. Bigelow, 
resigned. He died in Worcester, October 2, 
1847, aged 59. These three gentlemen, like 
their predecessor, instead of encouraging liti- 
gation, " sought the things that make for 
peace." They all took a lively interest in the 
general welfare of the town, and especially in 
the education of the young ; and, at different 
times, were all members of the school commit- 
tee. They possessed, in an eminent degree 
the confidence of the people. They all served 

Note. Hon. Timothy Boutelle, B. M. Farley, of Hollis, N. 
H., Abel Boynton, and Leonard M. Parker, of Shirley. 



108 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

in ihe office of Town Clerk and Selectmen. 
One of them was a member of the Convention 
for revising the Constitntion of this Common- 
wealth ; they were all members of the General 
Court; and two of them Representatives in 
Congress. Truly may it be said that this town 
was the better for theii* having lived in it. 
And it is hoped that their successors in the 
XDrofession, Messrs. Fletcher and Mcrriam, may 
follow the praiseworthy examples of their dis- 
tinguished predecessors. 

Mr. Perry married a sister of Doctor P. T. 
Kendall, of Sterling, who still survives him, 
and continues to reside in this town. He left 
two daughters, one is the wife of J. W. Fletch- 
er, Esq., and the other of Mr. C. 11. Colbum, 
the Postmaster. 



TANNERIES. 



The first tannery in this town was located 
immediately east of Wilson's mill-pond, on the 
south side of the way leading from the " great 
bridge" into "the broad road." It was improv- 
ed by Joshua Smith, who was probably one of 
the early settlers. It was afterwards owned or 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 109 

occupied by a man by tlio name of Gates, whose 
wife, or widow, was for one or two years, the 
teacher of the summer school in tlie Xorth part 
of the town, about sixty-five years ago ; and 
since that time tliere has been no tanning done 
in that yard. I'he second was about half a mile 
West of the meeting-house, and was owned by 
Oliver Carter, a son of one of the first settlers, 
and the father of him who was to have found 
the lost carbuncle. He sold out to Benjamin 
Hawks about the yeai* 1780, who for about 
twenty-five years, carried on the business to con- 
siderable extent, employing a journeyman in 
addition to two or three apprentices, one of 
whom, Le^'i Adams, succeeded him. Adams, in 
company with B. Perkins, did a small business 
for eight or ten years, and then sold to Thomas 
Stearns, who, with about the same capital em- 
ployed by Hawks, say .<^2000, turned out some- 
thing like j$3500 worth of leather annually for 
seven or eight years, and then sold to Wm. 
Barrage, and constructed a new yard on the 
Monoosnock brook at the Eullum saw-mill, 
where he continued to do a safe and profitable 
business till 1847, when he sold out to J. C. 
Lane. The tanning was successfully prosecu- 
ted by AVm. Burrage and a younger son, and 
by Asa Pierce, Jr., at the old yard till 1835, 
10 



110 



HISTOIIY OF LEOMINSTER. 



imd then -vvlioUy discontinued at tliat place. 
William Burrage, one of the first, and pro- 
bably the best of Hawk's apprentices, com- 
menced tanning- in the north part of the town 
in 1790, vv'ith a small capital, and on a small 
scale. 

He gradnally increased the business, uaitil 
at the end of thirty years he employed a capi- 
tal of $3000, and turned out annually, for sev- 
eral of the last years, S5 000 worth of leather. 
Leonard Ihirrage, after having been in com' 
pany with his father tliree or four years, bought 
the yard in 18'24, and carried on the business 
by himself, and in company v,ith Geo. 8. Ymr- 
rage, annually increasing both the amount of 
capital em})l()yed and the manufactured article 
till 1844, when the establishment was sold to 
Eabcock and J. ^I. Burrage. Up to this time 
tlie tanning in this tov/n had all been done in 
the old fashioned ^\ay ^vith cold liquor, slow 
process, and a great amount of nninual labor; 
but Babcock & Barrage put in steam poAver, 
and increased the business about four-fold, do- 
ing as much in three months as had been pi-e- 
A'iously done in a yeai- ; and, with a capital 
of $()000, turning out .S 20,000 worth annually. 
And now, 1852, the establishment has passed 
into the hands of Putnam & Phelps. Ij. Bur- 



HISTORY OF LEO:\riNSTErw 111 

rago, Tliosmas Stearns, and A. Pierco, anionic 
others, were ai)])rentices to AA'm. Burrag-e ; and 
by their industi-y and good nianagcnicnt, tliey 
liave all acquired more than a competency of 
the good things of this life. Indeed, tAvo of 
tliem are now among the most wealthy men in 
the town. Tliey have followed the example of 
tlieir master in financial affairs. His first pur- 
chase was of Doct. Govring, avIio then owned 
a larQ-e farm, and althou"-h it was only ahout 
350 worth, the Doctor required two names 
upon the note. ]Mr. Burrage, avoiding the ex- 
tremes of parsimoniousness and extravagance, 
l)y his economy and industry was successful in 
his business, and bought not only the Doctor s 
whole farm, but also anotlier on the other side 
of liis lanyard ; and after a long and useful life 
died in 184-1, leaving a large estate to his heir^. 
A good example for all young men to follow. 

The manufacturing of patent leather was 
commenced by Babcock & Burrage, in the 
vicinity of their tannery, in July, 1^51, and 
prosecuted by th.em until the following Decem- 
ber, Avhen a transfer of tlis business was madi^ 
to Mr. X. W. Stoddard. He being a skilful 
and experienced workman, is giving a new im- 
petus to the business, and executing the work 
in a superior manner. 



112 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

The managoment of so important and valu- 
able a braneli of finishing- leather is attended 
witli many inconveniences while in its infancy. 
The proprietor is surmounting the numerous 
difficulties, and with some half dozen workmen 
intends to finish about |{'25,{)00 worth of stock 
annually. One great inducement Mr. Stoddard 
had to manufacture patent leather at his pre- 
sent locality was, the convenient opportunity of 
obtaining an excellent article of leather for the 
purpose of Putnam & Phelps, successors to 
Babcock & Burrage. For firmness of texture 
and its pliability, the leather they tan is seldom 
surpassed. The valuable improvements intro- 
duced by the enterprising proprietor, in the fin- 
ishing of this kind of leather, of Avhich he 
claims the right, must make it a superior and 
durable article, compared \\'ith what has here- 
tofore been manufactured. 



BOOTS AND SHOES. 

For seN'enty years but veiy little liad been 
done in the manufacturing of boots and shoes, 
except merely for custom w.ork. In 1810, Jo- 
seph C'onant commenced making ladies' mo- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. ll^^ 

rocco shoes, and continiiod in the business about 
twenty years, selling something like $'800 an- 
nually, mostly in Xew York and A^evmont. 

For six years previous to 1842, Tj. & (r. S. 
Burrage manufactured annually about ,^25,000 
worth of leather shoes ; and G. S. Burrage did 
nearly a third as much for three rears longer. 
And since 1845, M. D. Haws, in addition to 
his custom work, has made ladies kid and 
leather shoes and boots to the value of from 
.^7000 to ^10,000 annually, sold in Massarlni- 
setts. X(nv Hampshire and Vermont. 



SADDLES, &c. 

About the year 1787, ^Ir. Ephraim Eager, 
from Sterling, commenced the manufacture of 
saddles in the old tailor shop of Mr. John Rich- 
ardson. He was not a business man, his sales 
were small, and in 170{), he returned to Ster- 
ling, destitute of property. Asa Kendall, thc^ 
younger apprentice of Eager, succeeded his 
master, and, being an industrious, careful man, 
carried on tlic business successfiMly for about 
fifteen vears, ^lien lie sold out and removed to 



114 HISTORY OF LEO.MI^'STER. 

Mount Vernon, N. H., wliere he still resides. 
Francis Jolinson succeeded Mr. K. Jonas 
Gates, Jun., the elder apprentice of Mr. K.,for 
a time carried on the business, on a small scale, 
in the Easterly part of the town. Col. Luke 
Lincoln, a native of this town, and who served 
his apprenticeship with Mr. Breck, of Pepperell, 
manufactured harness, chaises and other carri- 
ages profitably in this town, from 1827 to 1849; 
but the amount of capital employed, or the 
value of the articles annually made, are not 
known. Mr. George Gay was a partner with 
himlrom 1828 to 1832, the time of his (Gay's) 
death. 

At an early date after the incorporation of 
the town, the manufacture of potash was under- 
taken, by Thomas Wilder, Esq., one of the 
tirst settlers, and continued some years after- 
wards, by his son Thomas. Their works were 
at the outlet of Chualoom pond. Jonas Ken- 
dall, senior, also made quite a business of man- 
ufacturing the article for a number of years. 
He also manufactured pearlash, and his wife 
made jxhicerbread to sell. And after them, Jo- 
tham Johnson was extensively engaged in the 
business. Ilis w^orks were situated on the West 
side of the brook near the Fitchburg & Wor- 
cester Kail Eoad crossinc^. He sold out to 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 115 

John Gardner, Esq., in 1795. Mr. Johnson 
was a brother of Asa, the hiw)cr. He was not 
only a man of great enterprise, bnt he was also 
fair, npright and honest in liis dealings. In 
1790, he established the first stage-eoacli that 
was run from this town to Boston, and contin- 
ued in the business a number of years. He 
and a younger brother by the name of Jonas, 
kept a variety goods store for many years, by 
which the inhabitants were greatly accommo- 
dated. He married the eldest daughter of the 
Rev. Francis Gardner, and their daughter be- 
came the wife of the Hon. Benjamin Seaver, 
the present Mayor of the city 'of Boston. John 
Gardner also succeeded Mr. Johnson in the 
store as -well as the potash, and for many years 
followed the example of liis predecessor in a 
fair and upriglit way of dealing, and was the 
first trader in this town who did not fail. Pre- 
vious to Mr. Johnson, there had been but one 
trader on a large scale, viz., ^laj. Hichardson, 
whose name is mentioned in connection vvith 
the mill. 

At present there are five or six stores in 
town, and for fifty years past tliere have been 
quite as many as were needful. 

The last named individual lived in the house 
that for a long time has been known as " Tlic 



116 HISTORY OF LEO>riNSTEIl. 

Abbey/' His store was on the opposite side 
of the way. .Viid to liim are we all indebted 
for those two rows of beautifnl ehn trees on 
each side of the road leading- from the younger 
Mr. Hosmer s over the Nichol's hill. It was in 
this, then, most elegant and S2:)acious mansion 
house, that John Avery, who for many years 
in succession, was tlie Secretary of tlie Com- 
mouM-ealth, resided several months with his 
family, in the early part of the American Rev- 
olution. 

A goodly proportion of the first settkn's were 
careful to set out a few~ trees in front of their - 
dwellings, and by the side of the road, and 
although tlie axe has been laid at the root of 
too many of them, there are a considerable 
number remaining ; several at the Col. White 
place; one at the Divol farm; one at Mr. 
Farmers ; one at the Key. Mr. Rogers' house ; 
two at the Gates' place ; tvro or more at each 
of the places formcniy owned by' (). S: J. Carter, 
Vj. Stuart, J. Boutelle, L. "^^'arner, and at some 
other places, (^uite a number of these elms 
arc stately trees, measuring in circumference 
over fifteen feet. Tlie largest, one at the Oliver 
Carter place, eight feet from tlie ground meas- 
ures twenty feet. It was set out in 1719, then 
a mere s[)rout. Even the town in its corporate 



HISTOUY OF LEOMINSTER. 117 

capacity early manifested a good taste in the 
matter. About the year 1765, the land now 
enclosed as the New Cemetery Avas rented to 
Joshua Smith, the first tanner in town, on con- 
dition, among others, that he shonkl plant a 
row of ehns by the side of it. .He fulfilled that 
part of the contract, but the soil not being 
suited to the elm, but very few of them liwd ; 
two only now renuini. 

There is a tradition, and I believe it to be 
true, that Smith also set out a row of elms on 
the south side of the way from his tan-yard, up 
-into the " broad road." Two of those trees are 
yet standing, and one of them A\ith a top of the 
greatest imaginable beauty. 

The elms on both sides of the road between 
the Kev. Amos Smith's and the burying-ground, 
were planted in tiie spring of 1793. More 
were set out, but they did not live. The button- 
woods on that street were probably set out at 
the same time. There were then only three 
dwelling houses on the West side of the road, 
and but one or two on the East. For those orna- 
mental trees, Ave are indebted to Mr. John Rich- 
ardson, who, for more than fifty years, Avas the 
only " man-tailor ' in toAvn, and Avho from liis 
OAvn family, not only furnished a goodly num- 
ber of tailoresses ; but also some half dozen or 



118 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

more most exceliciit female teachers of the town 
schools : to Doctor Silas Allen, for many years 
a practismg physician here: to Mr. Ephraim 
Eager, the first saddler in town, and who lived 
and died a bachelor: and to ]Mv. Josiali llich- 
ardsoii, then an .apprentice to Imager, and Avho, 
as was the case in the days of Job, only sur- 
vives to tell the story. And Ave are happy to 
know that after having lived in various otlier 
places, both A\'est and South, he has at lengtli 
returned to end a long life in his native town, 
and within sight of the liouse in Avhich he Avas 
born. It must afford him peculiar satisfaction- 
to walk in the shade of those trees. 

Many others are deserving of credit for of= 
namenting their houses and the roadside with 
shade trees. The late Joel Crosby, Esq., many 
years ago was at much pains to set out maples 
and other ornamental trees, along on the farms 
now owned by C'apt. Charles Xickerson and Mr, 
Warner. Indeed such trees may be found 
nearly all the way around what is called " tlie 
Xeck," either in front of the dwellings or by 
the roadside. 

The late Hon. Jonas Kendall possessed an 
uncommonly correct taste in relation to forest 
trees and garden flowers, as may be seen by a 
A'iew of the arran^-ements made bv him at liis 



liiSTOIlY OF LEOMINSTER. Il9 

last residence. Col. J. II. Kendall, the only 
survivor of seven children, and a non resident, 
owns and improves the estate ; and so far as it 
respects the cultivation of flowers, of fruit and 
forest trees, the discernment of the son is equal 
to that of the father. Some years ago the late 
I)ea. Wm. Burrage, together with his son Leon* 
ard and ^[r. ,T. Wood, caused rock-maples to 
he set out on l)oth sides of the road against their 
land for a third of a mile or more. Phhiehas 
Goodrich has made an appropriate selection of 
trees, and^' arranged them ^'cry regularly on two 
sides of his little cottage place. Those choice 
trees by the side of ^[rs. C. Baldwin's place in 
the tillage, in a few years more Mill sliow to 
great advantage. 

If we look into ?iranchester street, or at some 
of the roads that have been only recently estal)- 
lishcd, in iine, into almost every .part of the 
town, it must he apparent that many of the in- 
habitaiits have been individually turning their 
attention to this subject. And last, but bv no 
means least, the town itself in its corporate ca- 
])aciiy, has taken this matter up, and caused 
elms and other trees to be set out on the Com- 
mon near three of the Meeting houses and the 
Town house, which already begin to show to 
good advantagc\ These circumstances, togeth- 



120 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

CI' with the course which the town has pursued 
for some )-cars past in relation to the Cemeter- 
ies, speak well for the good taste and discern- 
ment hoth of the present and of tlie past gen- 
eration. 

The land for the new Cemetery was purchas- 
ed hy the town in 1840. It is enclosed with a 
handsome fence, and the lots are tastefully laid 
out, and many of them ornamented with shrubs 
and flowers. Great improvements have also 
been made in the old one. 



MILLS. 

It has generally been supposed that the first 
grist-mill in town was erected by Jonathan 
Wilson, and it is more than probable that he 
superintended the work; but the mill was 
built and owned by Ebenezcr Wilder, of Lan- 
caster, and probably before the town was in- 
corporated. The Selectmen, when they laid 
out the private way on the east side of the 
river, in October, 1740, commenced about four 
rods above the dam of Ebcnczer Wilder's mill- 
pond. There was then no bridge, but a ^ote 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 121 

had been passed just one month before, to 
build one. Wilder OAvned large tracts of land 
in this town. He had two sons and one 
daughter ; Benjamin went to Sterling, David 
staid in Lancaster, and Hepzibah was married 
to Jona. Wilson, and came here before 1740. 
After AVilder's death, w^hich took place Decem- 
ber 25, 1746, in the G5th year of his age, Wil- 
son came into possession of a large portion of 
the real estate in this town, in the right of his 
wife. But, as is too apt to be the case with 
men who marry women supposed to be rich, 
he lived above his income, became involved in 
debt, and the mill with the farm and other land 
adjacent, passed into the hands of Major James 
Richardson, who rebuilt the mill, and construct- 
ed a new dam lower down the stream. Rich- 
ardson was in trade on a large scale for a coun- 
try dealer at tliat time ; but, having failed in 
business, the mill, etc., passed into the posses- 
sion of some of his creditors in Boston, by 
name of Hubbard, who, by their agent, rented 
them and the farm for a number of years, and 
then sold to Asa Perry, who in 1795, convey- 
ed to Hopestill Leland; and in 1809, the Le- 
lands sold to Israel Nichols; and in 1830, 
Amos Haws, a grandson of Leland, bought of 
I. Nichols' heirs, and after putting in circula? 
11 



122 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

saws, shingle mill, etc., sold to Jonas Kendall 
& Sons, and since then, there has been but lit- 
tle griding or sawing done there. The build- 
ing is now an appendage to Crehore's paper- 
mill. 

For sixty years the dam at the Wilson mill 
was the only one that had been constructed 
across the Nashua River, in this town. In the 
year 1800, Doct. James Carter, of Lancaster, 
erected a grist and saw-mill quite at the East 
part of the Tow^n, which, after having been in 
the possession,'at different times, of some half- 
dozen others, are now owaied by Whiting Gates. 
And in addition to the common business of the 
mills. Gates & Harris manufacture horn but- 
tons there, to the amount of ^5,000 annually, 
employing from ten to thirteen hands, part fe- 
males. 

For more than twenty years, while the mills 
were owned by Merritt Wood, he carded wool 
to a considerable extent. During that period, 
Mr. W. took down the old mill and erected 

new. 

The last mills operated by the water of the 
Nashua, were built by Major Amos Haws, in 
1837. They are now owned by Joseph Coz- 
zens, wdio does a vast amount of business, both 
in grinding and sawing. Large quantities of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 123 

timber, sawed at this mill, are transported on 
the Fitchburg Rail Road. The saw goes the 
whole year. The water is carried about one 
hundred rods, in a canal, from the main stream. 
During the nine years these mills were o^vTied 
by Major Haws, the average quantity of grain 
ground annually, was 15,-100 bushels, nearly 
one fifth of which was wheat. The bolting is 
done in good style. In 1808 or '9, some. gen- 
tlemen had it in contemplation to erect a cot- 
ton-factory, on a large scale, near the paper- 
mills ; but the project was finally abandoned. 
In 1832, a small cotton-mill was built at the 
outlet of Chualoom Pond, by Silas Bruce, Esq., 
and others. It was o-l by 35 feet, and four 
stories high, including basement and attic. 
There were 500 spindles, and sufficient power 
for 500 more. The lowest d?pth of the pond 
has never been ascertained. The head at the 
outlet is 10 ft., and there is a fall of 70 feet in 
about 100 rods. The building and machinery 
were destroyed by fire, December 6, 1836, and 
has not been rebuilt. 

There is one fact connected with the erection 
of the mills now owned by Mr. Cozzens, too 
good to be withheld from posterity. From 
time immemorial it has been the custom in this 
town, whenever the mills, dwelling-houses, or 



124 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Other buildings of individuals, sliall have been 
swept away by floods, or destroyed by fire,* 
for the inhabitants generally to raise funds, by 
subscription or otherwise, to enable such indi- 
viduals to rebuild, without any expectation 
that such funds will ever be returned. But I 
have known of only one instance of funds hav- 
ing been raised in this way to encourage an m- 
dividual to commence a neiv work. 

After J. Kendall & Sons had purchased of 
A. Haws the " old Wilson Mills," where the 
grinding for a large portion of the inhabitants 
had been done for nearly one hundred years, 
they of course controlled all the Avater, and if 
cither mill was stopped it w^as the grist-mill ; 
hence the farmers and others, when the water 
was low, sometimes found themselves disap- 
pointed, by not having tlieir meal, and conse- 
quently their bread, in due season. In order, 
therefore, that a new mill might be erected, 
where grinding could be done at all seasons of 
the year, and so constructed that the wheat of 
the farmer could be made into good flour, a 
handsome sum was raised by subscription, and 

* About 30 years ago, 2 Fire Engines were purchased by the 
town, and they ans\yer a good ptirpo.se where .tbere is a supply 
of water. Tliere arc now two well organized companies of en- 
«iae-men in town. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 125 

given to Major Haws, to encourag-e him to un- 
dertake the work in his own p^i^ate capacity. 
This he did do. And after improving the mill 
profitably for a number of years, with charac- 
teristic honesty and honor, he called on all the 
contributors then lining, and very unexpectod- 
ly to them, refunded to each the full amount of 
his subscription. 



PAPER MILLS. 

The first Paper Mill in this town, was erect- 
ed by Wm. Nichols and Jonas Kendall, Esqs., 
a few rods below the Wilson mills, and the 
water was taken from that pond. It went into 
oj)eration in 1796. It was a one vat mill, and 
one engine. The value of pa^x^r manufactured 
the first year, did not much exceed ^^4000.* 
The mill was destroyed by fire in 1810, and re- 
built the next winter. Jonas Kendall and 

* Among the first hands employed were Samuel Crocker 
and Willard Parker. Deacon Crocker is still living. lie 
has always been a sober and a conscientious man, and both by 
precept and example did much towards preserving and even im- 
proving the morals of the boys and others who worked in tliG 
mill. 



r2G HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Sons manufactured paper on a cylinder, first in 
1825, and in 1833 they put in a fourdrinier 
machine. ^Miilc the mill was operated under 
the firm of Kendall & Sons, the amount of 
paper annually manufactured was greatly in- 
ciieased. In 18-15, the whole establishment 
was purchased by Edward Crehorc, who, having 
enlarged the buildings, operates with steam 
power, works ten engines, and makes from 
sixty-fi"S'e to seventy thousand dollars worth of 
paper annually. 

In 1801, Nichols & Kendall erected a second 
Paper Mill some little distance below the first, 
and in 1804, they dissolved partnership, and 
Nichols took the lower mill, and in 1818 sold 
it to A. J. Allen, of Boston, who carried on the 
business a number of years, when the mill be- 
came unfit for use, and was taken down. And 
in 1850, Allen sold his privilege out to Joseph 
Cozzens. To this lower mill was attached a 
grist mill and an oil mill. The value of the 
oil made there the first year was y$fl400, and 
the second over $2300. There was not much 
done in the grist mill. 

The third paper-mill was erected by Caleb 
Leland, in 1802. It was a one vat mill, and is 
about two hundred rods higher up the river 
than the first. It was occupied by Leland and 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 127 

others till 1807, -when it was sold to Edward 
Simmons, and in 1836, by him to Wm. T. Par- 
ker, of Boston. The valnc of paper annually 
niade in this mill is abont ,^14,000. 

In 182S, J. Kendall & Sons purchased of 
John Taylor his carding and woollen factorA\ 
which they converted into a paper-mill, and 
connected it with their other mill. All the 
mills above described are on the river; and 
during- 1851, another dam has been constructed, 
about a mile above the Parker mill, where an- 
other paper-mill is to be erected. And there 
are two or three other good privileges on the 
same stream, yet unoccupied. 

In 1799, Nichols & Ivendall and Ephraim 
Lincoln purchased a water privilege of II. Le- 
land, and erected a building on a small scale 
for a woolen factory. In the spring of 1800. 
Mr. John Taylor, an Englishman, who had 
come here from the Byfieid Eactories, in Essex 
County, rented this building, and put in ma- 
chmery for carding wool and manufacturing 
woolen cloth, and occupied it for that purpose 
till 1810, when, having become naturalized, he 
purchased additional water-power, and erected 
a new building near the otlier, but on a much 
larger scale, which he occupied till 1828, and 
then sold to J. Kendtdl & Sons, as befoie men- 



128 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

tionecl. The first builcling was occupied a few 
years by Major T. L. Chase, as a nail-factory. 

The first Saw ISIill in this town of which we 
have any account, was located on the Monoos- 
nock Brook, and must have been erected as 
early, and probably previous to the year 1740 ; 
for in December of that year the Selectmen, in 
tlic laying out of a private way from O. Carter's 
through the land of Jonathan, Rufus, and 
Ebenezer Houghton, after describing the last 
angle, say, " thence strait to Josiah White's 
saw mill." This was probably near the place 
where the F. & W. R. R. crosses the stream, 
and where a grist mill was erected by Landlord 
Joseph Beaman, about the year 1775. About 
the year 17G3, another saw mill was erected 
lower down the stream, by Rufus Houghton. 
It was afterwards known as the " Fullmn Mill," 
and is now owned by ^Ir. J. C. Lane. 

Previous to his death in 1806, Major Meta- 
phor Chase had made preparations for erecting 
a grist mill just bclow^ the R. R. crossing, and 
after his decease, the work was completed, and 
a saw mill added by his widow, Mrs. Maria 
Chase. These mills are now owned, or im- 
proved by the ^Icssrs. Conants. 

In the wet seasons of the year some sawing 
is done at the old Bartlett mill, which is loca- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 129 

ted quite in the South-west part of the town. 
Ill former times there have been saw mills 
m other places, which have either gone to de- 
cay, or been converted to other uses. There 
was one at the outlet of Chualoom pond ; 
another, and also a shingle mill, at the outlet 
of the meadow of that name ; one at the outlet 
of AVhite's pond ; two on the Fall brook, the 
Bennett mill, and the one above the buildiner 
erected some years ago for a starch factory, 
and since used for the maiiufiicturing of paper 
and various other articles. 

The first oil mill in this town was erected 
previous to 1790, but the particular year is not 
known to me; probably about 1785. It was 
owned by the late Hon. Jonas .Kendall, and 
there was a saw-mill attached to it. They 
were located on the Monoosnock Brook, near 
the Fitchburg line. For some years large 
quantities of oil were manufactured, and the 
cake M'as eagerly sought after by the farmers, 
for their hogs, as well as for their cattle. It 
was thought however, by some, that it did not 
make very good pork. The business was dis- 
continued about twenty-five years ago, and the 
buildings have since been converted to other 
uses, principally for a comb factory. 

We will now pursue our course along down 



130 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

and see what more we can find on this little 
stream and its tributaries, before their waters 
unite with those of the jSTashua. About the 
year 17()3, Mark Lincoln cfime into town and 
established himself as a clothier. He construct- 
ed a dam and erected a fLillino;-mill a little North 
of the road which had been laid out from Oli- 
ver Carter's to Josiah White's saw-mill. He 
employed an Englishman by the name of Cam- 
bridge, who well understood the business, and 
the dressing of home-made cloth was carried to 
great perfection, and for more than half a cen- 
tury was a profitable business. The late Capt. 
Ephraim Lincoln succeeded his father, and af- 
ter him Deac. Otis Stearns, one of his appren- 
tices, carried on the business a number of 
years ; but of late our girls can neither spin * 
nor weave, and home-made cloth is out of use. 
The privilege is now occupied and improved by 
Messrs. Wheelock and Eletcher as a comb fac- 
tory. 

* Excepting, perhaps, what Mr. E. R., in his report at the 
Cattle Show, was pleased to call " Street Yarn," 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. l3l 



COMBS. 

Ill the return made by the Assessors of this 
town to the Secretary of the Commonwealth, in 
1S45, the number of persons employed in the 
manufacture of combs, is set down as 146 — 
the number of manufactories, 24; — capital in- 
vested, ;|^22,000 — value of combs manufac- 
tured, ,^^77,400. Since that time there have 
been erected and fitted up, from twelve to 
fifteen buildings, at an expense of not less 
than S'45,000, — the number of persons em- 
ployed has been increased to more than 400, 
— the capital invested (exclusive of buildings, 
dams and fixtures,) to ^^75.000, and the man- 
ufjxctured article to the value of more than 
$250,000 annually. 

Two of the establishments on the Monoos- 
nock Brook have already been referred to. 
And now as we pass down that stream two or 
three hundred rods from what was the old full- 
ing mill, we come to what may properly be de- 
nominated the West' Village. And here, on 
the south branch of the Monoosnock, which is 
formed by the confluence of the waters which 
come do^\al from Baberry hill on the south, 
with tlv)se which come down on the west side 



132 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

of the Carter hill from the north, we find built 
up "svitliin half a dozen years past, through the 
energy and enterprise of General A. jMorse 
• & Brother, and some others, on land that had 
previously been occupied merely as pasture 
ground, four two story dwelling houses, one 
store and house, and nine one-story cottage 
houses, at an expense of at least ^15,000. 
Also four large mills, one of brick, in which 
200 persons might be enjployed. Cost of the 
mills including dams and privilege, j^ 11,000. 
Average amount of capital, ^^20,000. And the 
average Aalue of combs annually manufactured, 
$75,000. 

The next comb factory on this brook be- 
longs to J. H. Carter & Co., and is situated on 
the east side of the road leading to Princeton. 
It vvas built in 1850. Tlie number of persona 
employed is eighteen, — capital, |j'1200, — value 
of combs annually manufactured, ^^15000. Mr. 
Carter has been engaged in the comb, business 
more than thirty years. The last comb factory 
on the Monoosnock brook is situated near the 
old Fullum saw mill, is owned by Wakefield, 
Prcscott & Co., who, with a capital of ,$'3000, 
employ thirty-three hands, and turn out annu- 
ally about $25,000 worth of the manufactured 
article. This factory was erected in 1848. 



HISTORY OF LEO^^^"STER. 133 

There arc numerous other estahlishmeuts in 
difterent parts of the town, operated by steam 
power or water. And among the hitter are 
those of ]\ressrs. Jonas and Seneea Colburn, 
situated on the nortliernmost stream that unites 
with the Fall Brook. Both of these men have 
long been engaged in the comb business, and 
manage their affairs very prudently. 

This branch of industry was first commenced 
in this town about the year 1770, by Mr. Oba- 
diah Hills from Newbury. He was a brother 
of Mr. Silas Hills. And his descendants, and 
those of the same name, have been more or less 
engaged in it from that time to the present. 

Joseph Tenney, Edward Low, John Chase, 
and s"ome others from that ancient town work- 
ed at the trade. AMth a capitnl of ^^100 they 
would make ,S'500 worth of combs in a year. 
In tlie History of the County of "Worcester, 
published in 1793, in reference to combs, it is 
said that that work was carried on to great per- 
fection and profit. "About twenty persons 
work, more or less, at this trade ; about ten are 
constantly employed therein, and they manu- 
facture about six thousand dozen a year. Mr. 
Jotham Johnson, a trader here, employs five 
men in this work, who make twenty-five hun- 
dred dozen per annum. (Tliey were small combs, 
12 



134 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTEll. 

witli coarse teeth on one side and fine teeth on 
the other side.) Among these is one who 
makes ivory combs, equally good, perhaps, as 
any "imported from any coantry." (The indi- 
vidual referred to was Xathaniel Loav, Jun., 
who afterwards carried on the business in Lan- 
caster for many years.) For more than half a 
century the work was done by hand. Mr. J. 
B. Low was the first to introduce an improved 
press. It was in March 1822. The business 
has from its commencement had its " ups and 
its downs," but on the whole it has been a 
source of wealth to the town, and of profit to 
many of those who have been engaged in it. 
But it cannot be true, as has lately been stated 
in a newspaper, that two thirds of all the combs 
manufactured in the United States, (or even in 
this Commonweath) are made in this town. 
And it is not improbable that the above account, 
extracted from the Rev. Mr. Whitney's Histo- 
ry, may have been somewhat exaggerated. 

But with this, as with other profitable busi- 
ness, some have been engaged in it who possess- 
ed but little or no practical knowledge of it, 
and, of course, they have been unsuccessful. 

According to statistical returns made by the 
assessors of the several towns in Massachusetts 
for the year ending April 1, 1845, the value of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 135 

combs made here, as before stated, Avas 377,400. 
Ill the town of AY. Xewbiiry, ^70,700, and in 
nine other to^Yns in the ConimomveaUh, 
;^5 1,983. Since that time the business has- 
been vastly increased in this town, but whether 
in the same ratio in the other towns I am una- 
ble to say. The nine other towns above refer- 
red to were Boston, Haverhill, Holliston, Bol- 
ton, Xorthboro', Lancaster, Conway, Pitts- 
field, Tyringham and Attleborough. 

There is another branch of industry that lias 
been introduced into this town since the com- 
mencement of the year 1845, viz., the man- 
ufacturing of piano forte cases, legs and keys, 
by Messrs. J. C. Lane, J. II. Locky, L. Stone 
and J. C. Gove ; and their works are all situa- 
ted on the Monoosnock Brook. Mr. Locky 
occupies the building erected by Mr. Lane, hi 
1847, and the latter a new building, erected in 
1851, on the opposite side of the stream from 
J. H. Carter's comb factory : — Ail together em- 
ploy about forty persons — a capital of 8 or 9000 
dollars (exclusive of real estate) — and turn out 
annually something like 334,000 worth of the 
manufactured articles. And in addition to the 
ffrist mill and saw mills alrcadv mentioned, 
there are on this stream the two carpenter shops* 
of Messrs. Cowdry & Haskell — the machine 



I'^O HISTORY OF LEOMINSTEK. 

shop of Dea. Cotton & Son— the carriage facto- 
ry and the whcel-wright sliop of L. Johnson 8c 
Son. In all these are employed 30 men or more 
— $S or 9000 capital — and turning out annu- 
ally at least |20,000 worth of work. Mr. J.'s 
shop Was erected in 1823 — but all the others 
are of recent date. The dam across the stream 
at Johnson's shop was erected in 1811, by Mr. 
Luke Wilder, who, for many years, with trip- 
hammer works, manufactured axes, scythes and 
other edge-tools, and sent them abroad in al- 
most every direction, and especially to the great 
West, so that, (as Governor Everett once re- 
marked) one could hardly tra"S'el in any direc- 
tion M'ithout finding " a Leominster axe." But 
some years ago he disposed of his water privi- 
lege, and has gone up on to the bank where, 
" high and dry," with the strength of his own 
arm, in the good old way, he continues to man- 
ufacture first rate edge-tools, and to render 
other services in the line of his trade, as his 
father and his grandfather did before him. 
■' As his day is so may his strength be." 

Some years ago a manufactory of tin ware 
was established here by John Boynton, Esq., of 
Templeton, and carried oii for a while by Ber- 
nardo S. Nichols, and now continued by Wm. 
W. Elliott, who also manufactures all kinds of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 137 

stoves. The value of both khids of articles, 
together with metal pumps, cannot be less than 
$5000 annually. Several thousand dollars 
worth of baskets, brooms, mechanics' tools, 
pumps of wood, cast iron ploughs. Sec, are 
manufactured in this town. Formerly our 
ploughs were made of a more perishable mate- 
rial. Mr. Simon Daiby constructed them of 
wood ; and if men told the truth, his ploughs 
were xcvj good ; they ^^ould run without a 
holder, and turn the <>iebe fiat over. But wluui 
the driver chose it, tliey would only cut and 
cover. About the year 1800, and previous 
thereto, 200,000 of bricks were manufactured 
here ; but one of the yards having been dis- 
continued, only half the number are now made. 

Fifty years ago coopering was a profitable 
employment, and many large loads of barrels 
were weekly sent to the Boston market ; but 
that business has entirely failed ; and so also 
has the manufacture of straAV bonnets, hair 
selves, and some other branched of industry, by 
which men and women used to obtain a liveli- 
liood and lay up money. 

In 176;3 the nuniber of inhabitants was 743, 
including five negroes. In 1776 there were 980 
whites and 10 colored. In 1790, 1189 whites, 
8 colored. In 1800, 1486 whites, 9 colored. 



.138 HISTORY OF LEOMINStEfi,. 

In 1810, 1584. In 1820, 1790, 1 colored. In 
1830, 1861. In 1810, 20(39. In 1850, 3096. 
Increase for ten years, from 1840 to 1850, more 
than fifty per cent. 

Seventy years ago, as has been before re- 
marked, the inhabitants of this town were 
nearly all farmers. Generally they ate and 
drank the fruits of their own labor. They 
made their o^'^n butter and cheese, fattened 
their own beef and pork, and salted it down. 
In those days the meat barrel would have been 
a very unsafe place for a " dandy husband to 
hang his watch in." Indeed there vrere no 
dandies then. They lived frugally, but their 
food w^as substantial. The wives and daugh- 
ters always knev/ where to go for meat. They 
did not wait for the butchers cart to come 
along. Indeed, in those days, and for many 
years after, there was no such thing. It is 
true, that some fifty or sixty y^ars ago, an aged 
man by the name of Evans used to ride about 
on horseback, with a pannier on each side, and 
lie thought he did well if, in this and the ad- 
joining towns, he could sell out a calf and 
three or four lambs in a week. 'But now, and 
for tvventy-five or thirty years past, since there 
are so many who obtain their living in some 
other way than in tilling the land, a ^-reat 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 139 

change has taken phice m the mode of living, 
and from fifteen to twenty thousand dollars 
worth of fresh meat are consumed by the in- 
habitants in a year. During the year past, 
Fletcher & Ilobbins have sold at least y$' 18,000 
worth. Similar clianges have taken place in 
other articles of food. Less milk and more tea 
and coffee are consumed than formerly. In- 
stead of the good old brown loaf baked in the 
oven once or twice a week, hot wheaten cakes 
are served up for breakfast at least. And it is 
probable too many families, instead of making 
their own, depend altogether upon some regu- 
lar baker for all their " daily bread." And in 
regard ta some drinks, there has also been a 
change, and I am happy to say for the better. 
Fifty years ago, when young people were about 
to go to housekeeping, custom rendered it as 
necessary for them to have at least two decan- 
ters, a dozen tumblers, and as many little tod- 
dy sticks, as it was to have tea-pots, cups,, 
saucers and spoons. And here I claim tlio 
honor^ without fear of contest, of being the 
first man in town to set the decanters away 
empty, and to discontinue the practice of invit- 
ing friends to drink when they called to see me. 
And I claim half the credit of doing one other 
uood thino-. Previous to 1828, the selectmen 



1-iO HI8T0RY OF LEOMINSTER. 

received no pecuniary compensation for ordi- 
nary services ; but when they met at the tavern 
to transact busmess, it was customary for those 
in whose favor orders were drawn on the trea- 
sury to bring on to the table something that 
was "good to drink." In 1819 or '20, one of ^ 
the selectmen went away, leaving only the late 
Joseph G. Kendall and myself on the board. 
Finding that the practice drew together men 
who had no other business than to help empty 
the mugs, we put a stop to it, and from that 
time it was wholly discontinued. These, to be 
sure, were small beginnings, but the effect was 
salutary, and for twenty years the cause of 
temperance in this town was progressive with- 
out the aid of additional legal enactments. 
What proportion of the inhabitants of the 
town are strictly " temperate in all things," I 
am unable to say. That there are too many 
who are " out of the way through strong drink" 
is undoubtedly true. And that numbers, 
through a long course of intemperance and idle- 
ness, and others by misfortune, have become 
town paupers, is also a lamentable ftict. And 
this leads me to notice another change. With- 
in my remembrance there w^as no one support- 
ed here as a pauper. But during the first 25 
of the last fifty years, they had become so nu- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 141- 

meroiis, and tlic burden of their support so 
heavy, that the to^vn m November, 1830, Aoted 
to purchase a "poor-fann," and on it they 
erected suitable buildings, and there the poor 
are made as comfortable as the inhabitants of 
the town generally. But the average expense 
of their support now is nearly or quite twice 
as much as it was under a former system. The 
number, wholly supported, is about fifteen. 

It is wonderful to look back on the changes 
that have been made here in the course of 
" three score years and ten," not only in the 
mode of li\'ing, and in the different employ- 
ments of men ; but also upon the greatly in- 
creased number of dwelling houses in and near 
the centre, at the Xorth Village, on the river, 
and other smaller streams of water. And I 
would respectfully ask the reader, and espec- 
ially if he be a young man, and Avhose life may 
providentially be prolonged for iifty years to 
come, to take a stand with me on the bridge 
over the stream near the house of AVm. Wilder, 
Esq., and I will inform him, that on that brook 
and its tributaries, where are now located tlie 
numerous and various mills and factories already 
mentioned, the^-e were, seventy years ago, only 
a little fulling mill, a small grist mill and a saw 
mill. And if he will look towards the east he 



1^2 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

may be told that on the road to the Lancaster 
line tlicre wei;e but five dwelling houses where 
there arc now fifty. 

And then again south, where that whole 
village has been built up between the Monoos- 
nock Brook on the north, and the smaller 
stream running by Jonas Colburn's on the 
south, containing two school houses, seventy- 
two dwelling houses, and twelve or fifteen 
comb shops and factories, there was only that 
solitary habitation of ]\Ir. Colburn's, the for- 
mer residence of Stephen Johnson. 

And if we take a northerly view, on the 
west side of the road, where there were two 
dwelling houses, and, on the Colnmon, the 
second meeting house, we shall see the third 
meeting house, with its beautiful front, and 
handsome steej)le, and fifteen neat and elegant 
dwelling houses. And then on the opposite 
side of that road, and for nearly one mile East- 
erly towards the river, where, instead of the 
steam whistle might have been heard the hoot- 
ing of the owl ; and where there was only the 
old Landlord Beaman house, with its plastered 
outside, there are now, besides" a meeting-house, 
" the brick block," and the Rail Road Depot, 
sixty commodious dwelling-houses. And if we 
now turn towards the setting sun, and travel up 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 14-J 

West street, go by the old fulling mill, over to 
the clay pit, along- the base of that granite hill, 
and down the streams to the bridge again, there 
were but eight dwelling houses and one store, 
where there are now two elec^ant meeting- 
houses, two town houses, one of brick lately 
erected at an expense of about ,$9,000, one large 
school-house, a spacious tavern house, three 
stores and ninety dwellino'-houses. 

And now, my young friend, as you are to 
transmit to posterity in 1902, the account of 
the changes which may take place between 
this time and that, if you please, we will take 
a walk Nortlieastwardly, over the plain-land, 
through more than one mile of which no habi- 
tation has ever yet been erected for living men 
to dwell ill. But we will first go into the old 
cemetery and look at the Northeast corner there- 
of, it being the first lot purchased by the early 
settlers for a burying-place. You will there 
find a few stones which mark the place of the 
early dead. That whole spacious ground, en- 
closed with a substantial stone wall, you may 
view at your leisure. We will now^ as we pass 
along, turn aside and go through the new cem- 
etery, and look at some of tlie costly marble 
monuments that have recently been erected 
there to perpetuate the memory of dear depart- 
ed friends and relatives. 



144 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

There is a tradition, and I doubt not the 
truth of it, that before the first purchase for a 
burying place had been made, a stranger who 
died in this town was buried on the farm of INIr. 
Jonathan Wilson ; and that soon afterwards he 
gave the lot, on which Avas the stranger's grave, 
to the inhabitants for a burying-place. That 
lot is a little to the Southeast of the brick 
school-house in "\Va;-d No. 3, on the farm own- 
ed- by Mr. John Babcock. There rest the re- 
mains of quite a number of the first settlers. 
And among them are those of Thomas "Wilder, 
Esq., and his wife (who was a lineal descendant 
from Peregrine AYliite, the first male child born 
after our Pilgrim fathers landed on the Ply- 
mouth shore) and several of their daughters. 
The last person buried there was Lois, the 
widow of ]Michel Wood, a daugliter of Mr. 
Wilson, and the mother of Mrs. Hepzibeth 
Davis, from whose lips I \\^\e received this ac- 
count, and she is now in the 74th year of her 
age. 

Mrs. Wood died October 14, 1837, aged one 
hundred ye^irs, six months and six days. 

I cannot find that more than one otlier per- 
son in this town has lived to the age of one 
hundred years, and she was the widow of Mr. 
David Robbins. Her age, as I am informed by 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 145 

her grandson, Thomas Kobbins, was one hun- 
dred years and six months. She died October 
21, 1823. 

Many others have lived far beyond the time 
scripturally allotted to man. The following 
are among tliose who ha^'c died at the age of 
eighty and upwards, viz : — At 80, Ephraim 
Lincoln, died Sept. 10, 1843 ; John Divol, Dec. 
1, 1842 ; Simon Butler, A^ml 9, 1795. At 81, 
Phinehas Tyler, died August (>, 1817; Phine- 
has Carter, March 2, 1843 ; Tabitha, widow of 
Josiah Carter, June 29, 1810 ; Priscilla, Avidow 
of James Joslin, July 16, 1826. At 82, Phin- 
ehas Tyler, died Jan. 21, 1847 ; Tabitha, wid- 
ow of P. Tyler, March 25, 1850 ; John Eich- 
ardson, Aug. 8, 1852 ; Thomas Ilobbins, Aug. 
15, 1843. At 83, Mary, widow of Gardner 
Wilder, died April 21, 1801 ; Samuel Hale, 
June 13, 1834 ; Ismona, widow of Joshua Ty- 
ler, May 7, 1837 ; Jonas Gates, July 24, 1839. 
At 84, Hannah, widow of Ichabod Perry, died 
April 25, 1847 ; Jacob Fullam, Oct. 20, 1833. 
At 85, Samuel Hale, died July 4, 1801 ; Josi- 
ah Carter, Feb. 14, 1812 ; AVilliajn Nichols, 
Dec. 11, 1835 ; Lydia, widow of Joshua Pierce, 
Jan. 25, 1826 ; Huldali, widow of Joseph John- 
son, Aug. 21, 1851. 

At 86, Jonathan \yilson, died March 31, 

1o 
O 



146 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

1789; Raclicl, Avidow of T. BoutcUc, Jan. 1, 
1828 ; Bcnj. Perkins, Oct. 9, 1834: ; John Buss, 
Oct. 81, 1845 ; Prudence, widow of Josiali Car- 
ter, Sept. 21, 1849. 

At 87, Jonathan Carter, died March 19, 
1799; John Divol, Aug. 30, 1814; John 
Woods, Jan. 4, 1832 ; Eunice, widow of John 
Richardson, March 2, 1831 ; John Dexter, 
Jan. 15, 1839 ; Jonas Kendall, Jan. 22, 1844. 
At 88, Lydia, widow of Luke Lincoln, died 
Oct. 30, 1799 ; Elizabeth, widow of John 
AYoods, Oct.. 27, 1826. At 89, Catherine, wid- 
ow of Oliver Hale, died July 16, 1789 ; Wm. 
Burrage, Sept. 23, 1820 ; Sarah, widow of Wil- 
liam Lincoln, being his 3d wife, Eeb. 1833. 
At 90, Judith, widow of James Boutclle, May 
28, 1791 ; Lydia, widow of Joseph Richardson, 
April 14, 1850 ; Benjamin Haws, Dec. 4, 1844 ; 
Sarah, Avidow of Benjamin Haws, Dec. 26, 
1849. At 91, Sarah, widow of John Buss, Ju- 
ly 27, 1852.* At 93. Betsey, widow of Edward 
Low, died Dec. 12, 1846. 

* She was a sister of Doctor Thomas Richardson, of Fitzwil- 
liam, N. H., who, in his 87th year, died Aug. 8, 1852, the same 
flay with his hrother John of this town. The members of this 
family have been remarkable for their longevity— the average 
age of the parentsand six of the children, deceased, being a frac- 
tion over eighty-one years. And of the two only surviving broth- 
ers, Josiah is in the 77th, and Sewall in the G9th year of his age. 
The other three deceased were Luke, of this town ; Damaris, 
vvife of David Boutelle, late of Fitchburg ; and Abigail, wife of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 147 

At 94, Peter Joslin, died April 8, 1759 ; Thos. 
Stearns, Feb. 5, 1811. At 95, Ilepzibeth Wil- 
son, died about the year 1800. At 97, John 
Burditt, died Dec. 19, 1843. 

The above accounts have been mostly taken 
from the gra^e stones, and I am sorry to say 
that, so far as concerns the ages of deceased 
persons, the inscriptions on the stones are not 
all to be depended on for their accuracy. For 
example, (and there may be other instances) on 
the stone, the age of Rachel 13outclle is eighty. 
From a reliable source I learn that she was 
born August 7, 1742, and was of course in her 
86th year. She was the wife of Col. Timothy 
B., of this town — a daughter of Capt. Luke 
Lincoln, of Leicester — and her genealogy may 
be traced back to a near relationship with the 
late distinguished Gen. Lincoln, of Ilingham. 
She was the grandmother of the Rev. Artemas 
B. Muzzcy, of Cambridge, and the mother of 
Hon. T. Boutelle, of Watervillc. Timothy, 
last named, is the only survivor of a family of 
seven children, and is now in the 74th year of 
his age. And although he has resided here 
but little since he was sixteen years old, yet, 

Thomas Ballard, of Lancaster. On the maternal side, their gen- 
ealogy may be traced back through Peter, to the first of the name 
of Joslin among the early settlers of Lancaster, 



148 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

as I have abundant reason to know, he still 
cherishes a lively interest in the prosperity of 
this, his native town. He married a daughter 
of the late Judge Rogers, of Exeter, X. H., by 
whom he has had six children, only two of 
whom are now living. The daughter, Helen 
R., is the wife of Edwin Noyes, Esq., formerly a 
Professor in Waterville College — and the son, 
Xathaniel Rogers, a physician, has recently 
been married to Mary Kelley, a daughter of a 
Professor of that name, in the same college. 

The tradition is that the first of the name of 
Boutelle, (Boutall, Boutell or Boutwell) who 
came from England, settled in Ipswich, in the 
County of Essex, or in that vicinity — that one 
of his descendants, (whether son or grandson I 
am not able to say) went to Sudbury — and'that 
his son James, born there in 1700, came to this 
place in 1725, and was one of the first two set- 
tlers. Besides Col. Timothy, before mentioned, 
he had three other sons, viz., James, William 
and Kendall. . James, last named, had a son 
James, who was the father of the present Deac. 
James, and he has a son by the same name. 
One of the caiiy settlers of what is now South 
Reading, by the name of BQutwell,* married a 

• May not this man have been the first of tlie name who came 
into Massachusetts? And may not the first James of this town 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 149 

daughter of Deac. Thomas Kendall, of that 
town. His widow, Ilchecca Kendall, died Ju- 
ly IT, 1803, aged 85 years. Sec N. E. II. & 
G. Reg., V. 7, No. 1. ' 

The above and the two following, may serve 
to show what might he done in a genealogical 
point of ^icw, if one had time and money, and 
an inclination. 

At an early date (previous to 1G38) a widow 
by the name of Martha Wilder (Wyelder) came 
from Lancaster in England to Ilingham in 
Massachusetts. She was accompanied by two 
sons, Thomas and Edward. The latter remain- 
ed in Hingham ; and the former, after having 
resided some ^-ears in Charlesto^^'n, removed to 
Lancaster, in the County of Worcester, July 1, 
1659, and must then have been about forty 
years of age. He had three sons, Thomas, born 
1G41, John and Nathaniel. Thomas begat Jo- 
seph.; he begat Thomas, one of the early set- 
tlers here ; he also had a son Thomas, who was 
the father of the«present Peter Andrew AVilder, 
whose age is 87 — and he has a son Abel, with 
whom he lives, and also a little grandson of the 



have called one of his sons " Kendall" in reference to his grand, 
cr rather to his great grandmother? These qncstions may in- 
terest the Bout-eHes. Thoit^name ia not to be found in " Felt's 
History of I]j3wicli," 



150 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

same name, born December 20, 1844. They 
own and reside upon the fifty acre lot, near the 
Chnaloom pond, ^vhich was snrveycd and laid 
out to Joseph, the great grandfather of Peter 
A., in 1716. John, the second son, begat Eb- 
cnezer — he begat Pavid of Lancaster— and he, 
David, afterwards of Leominster — and he, Da- 
vid, who now gives the acconnt, and who is the 
father of David Wilder, Jinr., of Brookline — 
raid he has a son of the same name, born Sep- 
tember 24, 1837. 

The genealogy of other descendants from the 
the first Thomas might be traceel down to the 
eighth, ninth, and probably to the tenth gener- 
ation ; but I will forbear, lest the printer may 
be perplexed, and the reader become weary, with 
too much of the W. 

I trust, however, that some others will take 
up this subject, and trace the genealogy of 
many of the families of this town back ta a re- 
mote ancestor. 

Wc will now proceed, looking both to the 
right and to the lefl as we pass along, and 
take our stand on the river bridge, and from 
thence I will show you what, seventy years 
ago, was the most thickly settled part of the 
town. It consisted of a grist-mill, a saw-mill, 
a little tannery, a scliool-hou^e, (wliich was 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 151 

used by those ^\'lio adhered to the Rev. Air. 
Rof^-crs for their place of worship on the Sab- 
bath,) and nine dweUing-houses, four of which 
still remain. And then I will point ont to 
you one large comb factory, one blacksmith's 
shop, three or four shoemaker's shops, one on 
a large scale, two stores, two paper-mills, the 
contiguous buildings pertaining to one of which 
extend 400 feet, a grist-mill, a saw-mill, a school- 
house, a building till recently used by the Bap- 
tist Society for a place of public worship, the 
passenger and freight depots of the F. E,. R. 
Company, and about sixty dwelling-houses. 
And what is no more strange than true, a large 
proportion of all the local improvements above- 
named, and especially near the centre and the 
West Village^ have been made within the last 
fifteen or twenty years. 

But there have been other changes of which 
it may not be improper to take some notice 
here. Our fathers and our grand-fithers ! 
where are the}) ? All ^\■ho breathed the breath 
of life in tliis town one hundred years ago arc 
crone to their final account. And of the child- 
ren of those v/lio at that time were heads of 
families, there are but thn^e now living here. 
They are James, a son of Josiah Carter ; Eph- 
raim, a son of Stephen Johnson ; and Martha 



152 HISTORY or LEOMINSTER. 

Jones, a daughter of Levi Woods. Of their 
grand-children, there are now living in town 
about one hundred and thirty, and one half of 
them are the descendants of nine indi\iduals, 
viz.: Gardner Wilder, Stephen Buss, Nathaniel 
Colburn, Joseph Darby, James Ricliardson, 
Stephen Johnson, Ebenezer Houghton, D. Eob- 
bins, and Josiah and Jonathan Carter. 

And the remaining half are the descendants 
of about twenty-five more of those early set- 
tlers. I know not how many there may be of 
the fourth and fifth, but there are a few little 
ones here of the sixth generation from those 
whose residence was in this town one hundred 
years ago. 

There are a great many more facts concern- 
ing the political, civil, and municipal history 
of this town, but they must be omitted for the 
present. 

It is novv' the third day of May, 1852, and, 
according to the family record, I have entered 
upon the seventy-fifth year of my age, and I 
am thereby admonished that I should leave 
this part of the work, and enter upon another 
portion of the town's history, wliich, although 
"every page of it may not be bright, may, on 
the whole, be more interesting than what has 
already been written. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 153 

And I hope the reader will not be alarmed, 
for I have not the least intention in the world 
of writing a sermon, althongh I may com- 
mence with a quotation from scripture, that 
part of the town's history, which, though for a 
large portion of the time, it has been insepar- 
ably connected with the civil, may more prop- 
erly be denominated ecclesiastical. 

Acts xi : 26. " And the disciples were called 
Christians first in Antioch." And happy in- 
deed would it have been for all succeeding gen- 
erations of men if they had never been called 
by any other name. But in less than thirty 
years after the Autlior of the C'hrfstian religion 
had been persecuted and put to death, for pub- 
licly reproA'ing the Scribes and Pharisees, hypo- 
crites and other, for doing that which outward- 
ly should appear righteous in the sight of men, 
wliile within they were full of 'deceit and un- 
cleanness, the professed followers of the meek 
and lowly Jesus began to say "I am of Paul, 
and I of Apollos, and I of Cephas, and I of 
Christ." And from those times to the present, 
f)rofessing Christians have been accustomed to 
take to themselves the names of men, and words, 
and things ; and too nuich inclined to say to 
each other " stand off, for I am holier than 
thou." It will not, therefore, be surprising if. 



154 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

in the course of one liunclred years, tliere has 
existed here a difference of opinion on religious 
subjects. And although in the ecclesiastical 
history of this town there has been much, very 
inuch^ to be commended ; yet, itmust be admit- 
ted, that there have also been some dark spots, 
us will fully appear in tlie sequel. 

About the time that this town settled the 
first minister, there was a spirit of enquiry in 
the land, both among the clergy and among the 
laity, whether the human creeds that had been 
promulgated, and to which professing christians 
were required to yield their assent, "were strict- 
ly conformable to the word of God, as revealed 
in the sacred scriptures. # 



MEETING-HOUSES AND MhMSTERS. 

With a view to the fulfillment of the most 
important condition on which the Act of In- 
corporation was granted, the inhabitants very 
soon adopted measures for the erection of a 
Meeting-llouse, and the settlement of a " Godly 
Minister." And at their thhxl town-meeting, 
being the second held at the house of Mr. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 155 ' 

Benjamin "Wliitcomb, on the fifteenth clay of 
December, 1740, the question "syhcther "God's 
Tabernacle should be erected here," was delib- 
erately decided in the affirmative, and a Com- 
mittee appointod, consisting of Jonathan White, 
Joseph Wheelock, and Xatlianiel Carter, " to 
see that the work was done." The frame was 
raised in the summer of 1741. The house was 
located in the north-west corner of what is now 
the old buryiug-ground, on land purchased for 
the express purpose, of Ebenczer Houghton, 
rather than on a spot on the north side of the 
hollow which had been cfivcn for that use by 
Ebenczer Wilder, and which is now included 
within the limits of the new cemetery. In the 
winter of 1742, so much had been done to the 
house, that the town made provision to have a 
month's preaching in it. That house answered 
the purpose for the humble christians of those 
times ; but the people of the present day Avould 
not think it a suitable place in which to wor^ 
ship God in public. It was 45 feet in length, 
by 35 in width, and 22 feet high. It was 
rough boarded on the outside, with but few or 
no glass windows, and within only a loose floor 
and moveable seats. For several years there 
were no pews, and the outside was not finished 
and painted until 1753. 



156 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

But it served the purposes for wliicli it had 
been erected. Not only did our forefathers 
statedly assemble in that house for public wor- 
ship, and for the transaction of their parochial 
concerns ; but the common towii»meetings were 
also held in it for one third of a century. And 
then, viz., in October, 1775, it was sold at pub- 
lic auction, and purchased by the Baptist Soci- 
ety in Harvard, taken down and carried to "Still 
River," and for a long period was the place of 
worship for that Society. But some years ago, 
when they were about to build a larger house, 
the old one was removed across the way and fit- 
ted up for a parsonage house, and there it still 
remains. 

After having heard several other candidates, 
the town voted to " settle Mr. John Rogers, a 
learned orthodox minister, as they have been 
advised by the neighboring ministers." He was 
a lineal descendant from the martyr of that 
name. The salary was to be £4:5 annually, at 
first ; to be increased to £55 when there should 
be sixty lamilies in town ; and to have a deed 
of the minister lot of forty acres.* 

Mr. Rogers was ordained on the fourteenth of 
September, 1743, O. S. The services were, 

* The minister lot was in the vicinity of what is now the 
" poor-farm," and not the one on which Mr. R. lived and died. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 157 

" first, prayer by the Rev. Daniel Rogers, of 
Littleton ; the sermon by the Rev. Thomas 
Parker, of Dracut, from Ezekicl iii : 17, 18, 
19 ; charge by Rev. John Prentice, of Lancas- 
ter ; right hand of fellowship by the Rev- Wil- 
lard Hall, of Westford." The other members 
of the ordaining council were the Re^'. Da^id 
Stearns, of Lunenburg, and the Rev. Elislia 
Marsh, of (now) Westminster. 

On the same day of the ordination a church 
was organized, composed of sixteen male mem- 
bers, w^ho signed their names to a co^'enant, 
which, with other covenants of a later date, 
may be found in another part of the book. For 
a number of years, minister and people were 
happy and prosperous together ; but the days 
of trouble and sore trial came upon them. 

When a part of the congregation of the 
Rev. John Robinson were about to leave Hol- 
land, and embark for this country, he address- 
ed them in language like the following : 

" Brethren, we are now quickly to part from 
one another, and whether I may ever live to 
see your faces on earth any more, the God of 
Heaven only knows ; but, whether the Lord 
have appointed that or not, I charge you before 
God and his blessed angels, that you follow me 
no further than you have seen me follow the 
U 



158 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Lord Jesus Christ. If God reveal any thing to 
you by any other instrument of his, be as ready 
to receive it as you ever were to receive any 
truth by my ministry ; for I am venly pursuad- 
od, I am very confident, that the Lord hath 
more truth yet to break forth out of his Holy 
Word. For my part, I cannot sufficiently be- 
wail the condition of the reformed churches, 
who are come to a period in religion, and will 
go at present no further' than the instruments 
of their reformation. The Lutherans cannot 
be drawn to go beyond what Luther saw. — 
Whatever part of his will our good God has 
imparted and revealed to Calvin, they will 
rather die than embrace it. And the Calvin- 
ists, you see, stick fast where they were left by 
that great man of God, who yet saw not all 
things. This is a misery much to be lamented ; 
for, though they were burning and shining 
lights in their times, yet tliey penetrated not 
into the whole counsel of God ; but, were they 
now living, would be as willing to embrace 
further light as that which they first received. 
I beseech you to remember it as an article of 
your church covenant, that you be ready to re- 
ceive whatever truth shall be made known to 
you from the written word of God. Remember 
that and every other article of your most sacred 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 151) 

covenant. But I must hercwitlial exhort yo\i 
to take heed what you receive as truth. Kx- 
amine it, consider it, and compare it with otlier 
scriptures of truth before you receive it ; foi- it 
is not possible that the Christian workl shouhl 
come so hitely out of such thick anti-Christian 
darkness, and that perfection of knowledge 
should break forth at once, I must also ad- 
vise you to abandon, avoid and shake oif tli(^ 
name of Brownist. It is a mere nickname, and 
a brand to make religion, and professors of it, 
odious to the Christian world." 

The llev. ]Mr. Kogers was a scholar. Ilr 
was a studious and learned divine. But wheth<M- 
at the time of his settlement he was quite as 
" orthodox " as he had been recommended to 
be " by the neighboring ministers," or wheth<n- 
by diligently searching the Scriptures he had 
discovered more truth, which, as a faithful 
muiister of Jesus Christ, he considered it liis 
duty to communicate to the people of his 
charge, or whether a portion of his people, and 
especially some who had come into town after 
his ordination, were inclined " to stick fast 
where they were left by Calvin, that great man 
of God, who saw not all things," are questions 
upon Avhich it does not become me to express 
an opinion. It is, hoAvever, very certain that in 



160 HISTORY OF LEOMI]S"STER. 

the course of a few years, his preaching and 
his opinions upon certain religious questions 
were such, that a considerable portion of the in- 
habitants of the town became greatly alarmed, 
both for themselves and for their minister. And 
so great was the excitement, and so important 
was th« case considered to be, that an exparte 
Council, consisting of fourteen clergymen and 
twenty-six laymen, was convened to investigate 
and give advice in the matter. 

"In July, 1757, letters missive were sent 
out to the churches, signed by Oliver Carter, 
&c., in the name of about eighteen or nineteen 
brethren of the Church of Christ in Leominster, 
aggrieved at the conduct of the pastor of said 
Church, the Rev. Mr. John Rogers, complain- 
ing that he had denied the doctrine of original 
sin, and rendered himself suspected of unsound- 
ness, even in some of the fundamental doctrines 
of Christianity, more particularly of the Deity 
of the Lord Jesus Chrisf^and earnestly request- 
ing the help of the Church, by their pastor and 
delegates, to join in Council with the pastors 
and delegates of fifteen other churches, and 
give them their advice and direction, under 
tlicir present circumstances." 

The Council was held at Leominster, July 
26, 1757, and the following is the result: — 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. IGl 

Hosiilt of an Ecclesiastical Council held at 
Leominster, July 26, 1757, to consider the case 
of Rev. Jolni Rogers : 

A Council of Hftcen churches, viz : the s(K'- 
ond church in Sudbury, the third church in J\>- 
swich, the second church in Beverly, the first 
church in Danvcrs, the new brick church in 
Boston, the first church in A^'cstboro, the first 
church in Medway, the first church in Rutland 
District, the first church in Stouo;hton, the 
church in Southboro, the churcHi in I^unen- 
burg, the church in Chelmsford, and the first 
church in Lancaster, by their pastors and del- 
egates, and the church in Groton, by their del- 
egates, met at Leominster, July 20, 1757. At 
the request of a number of persons, members of 
the church in Leominster, professing themselves 
dissatisfied with their pastor, the Rev. Mr. John 
Rogers, by them apprehended unsound respect- 
ing some of the fundmenatal doctrines of Chris- 
tianity, with desire that the said council would 
hear and give advice to said dissatisfied mem- 
bers under their difiicultics, who having solemn- 
ly invoked the Great and Only Wise God for 
direction, and liaving fully understood by pa- 
})nrs laid before us, and by several testimonies, 
tliat the dissatisfied brethren had used all prop- 
«?r endeavors with their pastor, to obtain a mu- 



102 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

tuul coucil, before which the pastor and aggriev- 
ed might with freedom lay their causes, but had 
finally been denied, by which we were satisfied 
that they had just right separately to make ap- 
])lication for a council, and having to our grief 
been certified by a committee which we sent to 
Rev. Mr. Rogers, that he would neither concur 
with the aggrieved brethren in laying before us 
what was difficult among them, nor join with 
them in calling a mutual council, we found our- 
selves obliged to proceed to an hearing of what 
the dissatisfied had to exhibit, and after we had 
gained what light we could in the matter of 
said difficulty, as well from the brethren of the 
church who adhered to their pastor, (so far as 
we could converse with them,) as from the dis- 
satisfied brethren themselves, we came at last 
.to the following result, viz : 

Respecting the first article, which in your 
letter missive they set before us, viz : that fun- 
damental doctrine of Christianity of the true 
Divinity or Godhead of Jesus Christ, we unan- 
imously judge, that the aggrieved brethren had 
just reason to be dissatisfied with him concern- 
ing it, and it appeared to the majority of this 
council, that the aggrieved brethren had just 
ground of suspicion, that the Rev. Mr. Rogers 
did not hold or believe the essential ]3ivinity of 
Christ as it is revealed in the Divine word. 



HISTORY or LEOMINSTER. 163 

As to the article respecting" original sin, from 
what hath been delivered unto ns by the breth- 
ren, from Mr. Rogers' late printed sermon, from 
his full approbation of a late pamphlet, entitled 
'' The AMnter Evening Conversation upon dhe 
Doctrine of Original Sin," and from many co-in- 
cident testimonies, it appears to this council that 
he denies the doctrine of original sin, both the 
imputation of the guilt and the "corruption of 
our nature, and that the aggrieved brethren have 
grounds of dissatisfaction with him upon this 
also. 

Witli regard to the doctrine of regeneration, 
it is evident to this council, from the sermon 
aforesaid, and from other concurring testimon- 
ies, that the Rev. ISIr. Rogers hath vented and 
propagated an unsound and unscriptural notion 
of it, and as to the doctrme of conversion, as ]Mr. 
Rogers distinguished it from regeneration, he 
evidently appears' confused and unintelligible, 
so that in these likewise, he hath given further 
ground of dissatisfaction. 

Furthermore, we think we have just ground 
and occasion to add, the Council hath abundant 
evidence that Mr. Rogers has cast most inde- 
cent and unchristian reflections on the shorter 
catechism of the venerable Assembly of Divines, 
at Westminster, and as it is our incumbent du- 



164 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

ty, wc would bear our public uuitccl testimony 
against his reflections, at the same time, we do 
declare hereby, our full approbation of it ^s an 
excellent composure, orthodox, and agreeable 
to the Word of God,^ and that we recommend 
the due use of it to all christians. 

And now although we may well be supposed 
to think (as we do) that the aggrieved brethren 
of the Church of Leominster, who have called 
us in for their help, had just reason to be dis- 
satisfied with their pastor, the Ilev. Mr. Rogers, 
on account of his doctrines, against which we 
have taken exceptions as aforesaid, yet, unwil- 
ling to be the abettors of hasty and groundless 
separations, and willing to hope the Rev. !Mr. 
Rogers, upon serious consideration, with the 
help of a divine illumination, may so far change 
his apprehension of the doctrines of religion, as 
for the future to recommend his public preaching 
more to the edification of his flock than in time 
past, feeding them with knowledge and under- 
standing, we advise the said aggrieved at the 
present, and for the space of three months at 
least, to attend upon their said pastor's minis- 
try, and to hear him v/ith candor, waiting upon 
the God that hath the hearts of all men in his 
hands, to give them relief in such way and 
manner as shall seem best to him ; but if, upon 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 1()5 

SO long attending and waiting, they find no al- 
teration in your pastor, handling the important 
doctri^ies of religion, hut that he still goeth on 
propagating his errors, or give no satisfactory 
evidence of his change of principle, we advise 
that you renew your application to the council 
by the moderator, or if it be in Providence pre- 
vented, then the next eldest minister, or the el- 
dest scribe, for further advice. 

Upon the whole, dear brethren, at whose re- 
quest we have convened this council, while we 
approve of your real attachments to the doc- 
trines of the gospel, and your concern to keep 
the truth once delivered to the saints unadul- 
terated, we would earnestly exhort you to pre- 
serve the mystery of faith in a pure conscience, 
with undissembled charity, be humbled before 
(jrod, that he should permit such errors to be 
diffused among you, as darken the glory of the 
gospel, and have the greatest tendency to sub- 
vert the souls of men — praying earnestly for 
yourselves and for one another, in this day of 
temptation and danger ; that you may Vvitli un- 
shaken fortitude, adhere to the form of sound 
words delivered in the unerring oracles of truth, 
professed by our fathers, who peopled this wil- 
derness, and maintained in the harmonious con- 
fession of the protcstant allies, wlio shook off 



166 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



tlie yoke of anti-Christ ; at the same time we ex- 
hort you with equal earnestness, to behave with 
the most Christian and charitable disposition 
towards your other brethren, and to use every 
prudent method to preserve the unity of the 
spirit in the bond of peace, that if possible, you 
may with one heart join your endeavors to pro- 
mote the kingdom of Christ. Pray for your 
reverend pastor, that he may have much of the 
presence of the Divine "Redeemer Avith him, to 
guide and influence him m his present circum- 
stances, and that the difficulties he meets with 
may be the happy means of purifying his faith, 
brightening his graces, and preparing him for 
further usefulness. 

And we hope it will not be offensive to the 
llev. ]ylr, llogers, if we take the liberty to as- 
sure him that it is with the utmost regret that 
we have been obliged to make these remarks 
upon the doctrines he hath delivered from the 
pulpit and from the press ; we beg leave to as- 
sure him that nothing but a full conviction that 
they are contrary to the gospel of Christ, and 
subversive of the wnj of salvation laid down in 
the inspired oracles, could have persuaded us 
to have taken these steps, and we would earn- 
estly beseech him with a meek and teachabh^ 
temper, to compare the doctrines which liave 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



107 



been received by the churches in this hind and 
other churches of the Reformation, with the 
sacred scriptures, and to accompany his inquiry 
with ardent prayer to the Father'bf light, that 
he may be guided into all truth. We desire 
to unite our prayers in his behalf, that the spirit 
of Christ may be found upon him, enlighten 
him in the whole counsel of God, and make 
him a distinguished instrument of advancing the 
kingdom of Christ ; and we seriously advise 
the brethren who adhere to their pastor, to be 
earnest in their prayers to God that they may 
be preserved from error in this day of tempta- 
tion, and not to suffer their minds to be leaven- 
ed with prejudice against their brethren who 
have been, and are dissatisfied with several doc- 
trines delivered by Mr. Rogers ; but on the 
contrary to unite with them in your assiduous 
endeavors to promote the cause of truth, righte- 
ousness and peace, that the religion of Jesus 
may prevail in its purity and power among 
them, and may be safely transmitted to distant 



posterity. 

Delegates. 
James Huesey, 
Josiah Brown, 
Edward Hartwell, 
William Ward, 
Thomas Grecnough, 
John Ruddock, 
Daniel Proctor, 
Samuel Dakin, 



Signed by 



John Parker, 
Joshua Partridge, 
Josiah White, 
Andrew Rice, 
Cornelius Tarbell, 
Samuel Flint, 
Joseph Cressey, 
Benjamin Foster, 
Ed\yard Baker, 



James Stone, 
Joseph Farwell, 
Joseph Hartwell, 
Joshua Osgood, 
Thomas Cummings, 
Joshua Fairbank, 
Nathaniel Whitney, 
Joseph Boynton, 
Timothy Brigham. 



1G8 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



Pastoks. 



IT^U. Israel Loring, Sudbnry, 
170*. Saml.Wigs;lesworth, Ipswich 

1711. John Chipman, Beverly. 

1712. Peter Clark, Danvers. 
1721. Eben'r. Pembapton, Boston. 
1721. Eben'r. Pprkman,Westboro. 

1721. Natban Buckinan, Medway. 

1722. Thos. Frink, Rutland Dis- 



trict, (now Oakham.) 
1723. Samuel Dunbar, Stoughton. 
1726. Nathan Stone, Soutliboro". 
1728. David Stearns, Lunenburg. 
173o. Aaron Smith, Marlborough. 

1736. Eben'r. Bridge, Chelmsford. 

1737. Timothy HarriHgton, Lan- 
caster. 



[All the Pastors were graduated at Harvard University, and in the 
years which Ihave take;i the liberty to prefi.K to their respective names.] 

Agreeably to the advice of the Council in the 
foregoing result, the dissatisfied and aggrieved 
brethren did continue for the term of three 
months at least, to attend upon their said pas- 
tor's ministry ; but with how much candor 
they heard him is now known only to. that Be- 
ing who knoweth all things. The dissatisfied 
brethren, and the members of that Council, 
were entirely ignorant of the true character of 
the Rev. John Rogers, if they supposed, that, 
after a long and careful study of the Scriptures, 
he had formed a different opinion from theirs 
on some theological questions, he would hastily 
change that opinion, or so far act the hypocrite 
as to preach doctrines which he did not believe 
to be true, for the sake of retaining his place in 
the ministry, or the friendship of those forty 
men who sat in judgment upon him. Mr. Rog- 
ers formed his opinions on difficult and import- 
ant questions with a great deal of care and de- 
liberation, and afterwards was tenacious of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 1G9 

tlicm, perhaps, even to obstinacy. Among tlie 
sermons which he preached during those three 
months, as I have been informed by men who 
heard liim, was one from the words, " Behold 
how (/reat a matter a little fire kindleth.'' But it 
does not appear that his opponents were at all 
satisfied with any explanations lie made. And 
they consequently renevred tlieir application to 
the Council by the moderator, or the next eld- 
est minister, or the eldest scribe, for further 
advice." Although I find no record of the fact, 
the inference is irresistible, that that Council, 
before they separated, came to the further re- 
sult, that if in the course of those three months 
^Ir. Rogers should " still go on propagating 
his errors, or gite no satisfactory evidence of 
his change of principle," that he should be sus- 
pended from the ministry. Accordingly we 
find that on AA'ednesday, the 16th of Novem- 
ber, 1757, at a church meeting held on that 
day, of which the Rev. Samuel Dunbar, a mem- 
ber of the Council, was the moderator,* (by 
what right I do not know, he not being a mem- 
ber of the Church,) it was voted . " to accept of 
the result of the venerable Council, which they 
called to advise them in tlieir difficulty." And 
on the same day, in town meeting, it was voted 
" that the Rev. John Roarers desist from hi- 
L5 



170 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

pastoral office for the space of two months, 
next ensumg, and that the Selectmen be a com- 
mittee to supply the pulpit during that time." 
I had learned by tradition, and some entries in 
Stephen Buss' journal, now in my possession, 
prove it to be true, that on three several Sab- 
baths after his suspension, IMr. Rogers went to 
the meeting house for the purpose of perform- 
ing his ministerial duties, but being denied an 
entrance he preached in his own house- The 
first Sabbath, llev. Mr. Dunbar preached from 
John 9: 34. The second, the meeting house 
^\'as closed ; and the third, the Rev. Mr. Har- 
rington, of Lancaster, preached from Romans 
10: 3. From the best information I have been 
able to obtam from the records and other sour- 
ces, I am of the opinion that no other Council 
{^xceptmg that of the forty members, was form- 
erly convened in this town in relation to the 
difficulties between Mr. Rogers and his people. 
It does not appear that any further measures 
were attempted towards a reconciliation. On 
the 28th of January, 1758, both the Town and 
the Church voted that Mr. Rogers be dismissed 
from his pastoral office. At that meeting of 
the Church, the following letter was read : 
Christian Friends and Brethren : 

I lament that we must be separated. I suf- 



IIISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 171 

fercd and toiled ^yitll you to establish this 
church. Most of those who laid the founda- 
tion of tliis altar of God in the wilderness, will 
stand ^by me. My enemies are mostly those 
who came among us, as strangers, whom we 
welcomed with a Christian affection to our 
table of communion, and house of worship ; 
but who have now ungratefully, like the ser- 
pent in the fable, bitten their benefactor. The 
council, too, which have advised you to this 
course, are not free from guilt. Some of them, 
and not a few, think as I do on those very 
doctrines which they pronounce so fatal, and 
which they call upon me, in the pitiful tones 
of children to renounce. I forgive them their 
sin. May God forgive them. Posterity will 
reAdse their decision, and judge their charac- 
ters. I do not understand why I should be 
singled out, from the other ministers around 
me, to be made a victim. I diifer from tlicm 
in nothing without it is in frankly declaring 
what I do believe. Their opinions are like 
mine. I confess that, on some points I have 
modified my opinions since I came among you ; 
and I am grieved to think that any are so 
simple as to suppose it an indication of mental 
weakness, or perfidy of heart, or treachery to 
duty, to grow wiser as one grows older, and 



172 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

studies longer. John Robinson warned his 
chuich to beware of thinking that no more 
light would beam out of the A^'ord of God, 
expressly warning tliem not to stick fast, as 
some did, where Calvin left the tnith, but to 
follov/ on after truth. Oiu" covenant, it is true, 
implies the doctrine of ,tlie Trinity, but it does 
not require any one always to believe it ; it 
expressly exhorts us to study the Word of 
God, both day and night, and to conform our- 
selves thereunto. I have done so. Am I guil- 
ty of a crime 1 I am willing to be classed witli 
Newton, and Milton, and Locke, and other 
good and great men, in the opinion which I 
hold. ' No one need be ashamed in their com- 
j)any. As for recanting my opinions. Christian 
friends, I cannot do it. God and my conscience 
AV'ould both condemn me. I could not think of 
myself but wdth shame. My ancestor suffered 
the torture of fire, and death at the stake, 
rather than recant, or conceal liis opinions ; 
could I meet him in heaven without a blush, if 
I should deny what I believe to be God's truth 1 
Could I answer to my Master, Christ ? Judge 
ye. I lament to be cut off from you. I am 
poor, and know not v/here to go. !My little 
ones cry around me for bread. Still I will 
trust in God who has never vet forsaken me. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTTTR. 1T3 

He will care for me and mine. I hope, if you 
do expel me from the office of Pastor, that you 
will pay me what you owe me. For ten years 
I have been willing to sliare in your poverty, 
by not calling for a portion of my salary which 
is justly due to me. Xow, I am to be cast 
abroad upon the world, I feel as if I must be 
permitted to receive what is necessary for my 
very existence. But no more of this. The ex- 
tremest want alone could liavc compelled me 
to mention it in this connection. Brethren, 
pause before you act. Consider, I pray you, 
,what will be the end of these things ; what 
will be thought of tliis after vre are all in our 
graves ? God give you wisdom to act in this 
matter, as you will all wish you had, when you 
stand in His presence to answer for this deed. 
And may the great Head of the Church keep 
you, and build you up in truth and holiness 
evermore. 

Your devoted, yet aggrieved Pastor, 

JOHX POGERS. 
After tlie letter had been read, the Church 
" Voted, that wliat Mr. Pogers had heretofore 
offered, and what he had now offered, was not 
satisfactory, and that in accordance with- the 
advice of the late council, he be dismissed from 
his pasto]-al office." On the same day, the 



m 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



following- Ivemonstrance was read in town- 
meeting : 

"^ To those inhabitants of said Leominster, 
who have lately pretended to be dissatisfied 
with the Ilev. Mr. John Rogers, — Sirs : As 
the article respecting the dismission of the 
said Mr. Ilogers from his pastoral office, and 
those articles which refer to your procuring 
any other preacher, either past ar futr^re, — 
and also those which relate to the granting 
or raising any moneys to defray the charges 
that have arisen or may arise on any such ac- 
count contained in the Avarrant for callina* a 
meeting of the town, this day, as all these do 
indeed appear to the subscribers to be very 
mireasonable, inequitable and unjust, so they 
do by these presents utterly protest against your 
proceeding to pass any vote as a to-wn on any 
of the fore-mentioned articles. 



Phillip Sweatsir, 
Oliver Wyman, 
John Wheelock, 
Jacob Peabody, 
William Warner, 
Xathanisl Carter, 
Thomas Lpirett, 
Jonathan White> 
John Joslin, Jr., 
Joseph Polity, 
James S'ymoiids, 
Peter Houghton, 
Phillip Swe-atsir, Jr., 



Thomas Wilder, 
Benjamin Whitcomb, 
Elizabeth Wheelock, 
Ebeiiezer Colburn, 
Timothy Kendall, 
Nathaniel Rogers, 
Nathaniel Colburn, Jr. 
Jonas Kendall, 
Joshua Wnad, 
Jonathan Wlicelock, 
Ezra Hal#, 
Wid. J. noughton,, 
Joseph Wheelock, 



Simon Butler, 
Stephen Johnson^ ' 
Nathaniel Colburn, 
Jacob Peabody, Jr., 
Abner Wheelock, 
Ebenezer Policy, 
John Walker, 
John Joslin, 
Abel Wheelock, 
Nuthajiiel Coj-ter, Jr. 



llecorded by Ionatha.n Wilson, Tctwn Clerk. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 175 

' Thus, the llcv. John Rogers, a* Ihiecil de- 
scendant from the martyr of that name, after 
having- ministered to the spiritual wants of liis 
people more than fourteen years, on a very 
small salary (and a part of that had heen with- 
held,) is deharred from going into the pulpit 
on the Sabbath, is shut out of the meeting 
house, and tvirned awa\-. Why ? What evil 
hath he done I '\\'as he guilty of any immo- 
rality ? Xo. Had he neglected to perform any 
of his ministerial duties ? Xo. He had only 
done what the lle^'. John Robinson advised tlie 
members of his Church to do ; he had sought 
for more light, and, as he verily believed, had 
found it. By a careful study of the sacred 
Scriptures, he had discovered more of the Di- 
vine truth, and for honestly preaching such 
truth he was persecuted as a heretic and driv- 
en away. In familiar language, the members 
of that exparte Council say to the eighteen or 
nineteen disaffected brethren, " we think you 
had just reason to be dissatisfied. Your Pas- 
tor does not think ^ery highly of that West- 
'minster Catechism. He does not believe in 
total depravity or original sin. He is not a 
Trinitarian. On the doctrine of conversion he 
appears to be confused. He chiims to know 
more of the true meaning of some portions of 



17G HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

the Bible than the ' neighboring ministers.' 
And it is not expedient for you who are deter- 
mined ' to stick fast' to Calvinism to have sucli 
a minister. He must be dismissed. But you 
must not do it hastily. We think you had 
better ' attend upon his ministry ' for the space 
of ' three months at least.' And if he still fjo- 
eth on propagating his errors (as probably he 
vrill,) instead of convening this whole Council 
again, you may apply to the llev. Samuel Dun- 
bar, and he will come up and tell you what to 
do to effect the object v/hicli the Council havc> 
in view. He will also act as the moderator of 
vour church meeting:, record all the votes vou 
may pass, and put every tiling in the right 
shape." 

In 1759, Mr. Rogers brought an action n- 
gainst the town for the recovery of some al- 
leged arrearages of his salary. And for more 
than two years his friends made several unsuc- 
cessful attempts to get set off as a separate 
parish. At length the parties agreed to refer 
all their difficulties, and the following is a copv 
of the Bulc : 

Ride of Supreme Court, Septemhcr Term, 1761, 
Worcester, Masn. Each party shall boar his 
own cost, and the said John Rogers in court 
fully released to the said town of Leominster, 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 177 

the judgment reviewed and the bond of review 
and all demands on them as their minister ; 
and the said inhabitants a^-ree that those who 
adhere to the said Rogers, as far as lies in said 
town be incorporated into a separate precinct, 
and that those wlio shall on or before the last 
day of October next, send their names to the 
clerk's office, and desire to be incorporated in- 
to a separate precinct shall, they and their es- 
tates, be the precinct, and that the other in- 
habitants shall on reciuest, by vote, join in the 
said petition that they may be so incorporated, 
and also agree that if tlie adherents of the said 
Kogers shall be so incorporated, the precinct 
that remains shall, within one year after they 
arc so incorporated, pay to the said new made 
precinct, the sum of £4^0, lawful money ; and 
the farther sum of iJ4:5, of la^^•ful money more, 
within ten years after they are so incorporated, 
with the interest thereof, after the expiration 
of the first year. 

Copy as of record examined. 

SAMUEL VvaNTIIROP, Clerk. 



Agreeably to the provision of the above 
ule, the 
presented ; 



11 ule, the following Petition was signed and 



178 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



To the Honorable Justices of the Superior Court, 

<^c.,Scpt. 18, 1761. 

We, the subscribers, inhabitants of Leomin- 
ster, and adherents of Hev. Mr. Rogers, our 
present pastor, agreeable to the late rule of 
court entered into by the said town, do by this 
writing declare our consent and desire to be 
incorporated into a separate precinct, so long 
as we support the gospel ministry among our- 
sches. — Filed in the office of the Clerk of 
Sept. Court, Oct. 31, 1761. 

NATHANIEL HATCH, Clerk. 



Nathaniel Colburn, 
Joseph Wheelock, 
Nathaniel lingers, 
Thomas Wilder, Jr., 
Nathaniel Carter, Jr., 
Abncr Wheelock, 
Jonas Kendall, 
Thomas Davenport, 



James Symonds, 
Nathaniel Carter, 
David Farnsworth, 
William Warner, 
Susana Peabody, 
Jonathan Colbarn, 
jMa^aban Legett, 
Abel Wheelock, 



Joseph PoUey, 
Simon Butler, 
Thomas Legett, 
John Colburn, 
Jonathan White, 
Timothy Kendall, 
Jonathan White, Jr., 
Samuel Ilardeastle. 



The petition to the General Court was sign- 
ed by twenty-seven persons, and the Act of In- 
corporation was passed on the 27th of January, 
1762. And the two precincts continued to ex- 
ist separately until the year 1788, when, by 
another Act of the General Court, they were 
again happily united. 

Compared with the whole town, the second 
precinct, in point of numbers, was smalL And 
for reasons which will hereafter appear, but 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 179 

few united themselves with it after its incorpo- 
ration. For about ten years after his dismis- 
sion, INIr. Kogers preached to his adherents, 
either in his OA^^l or some other dwelling house. 
On the 7th of March, 1768, the town voted, 
" that the second precinct may meet in the 
school house on the North side of the River, 
on Sundays, during the Town's pleasure." 
That school-house was erected the preceding 
year, and stood a little N. E, of Capt. Josiah 
Burragc's dwelling house. It was destroyed by 
fire in the night time, about two weeks before 
the school kept in it by Jesse Appleton, after- 
wards President of Bowdoin College, would 
have been closed in the spring of 1791. That 
vote of the town was never rescinded, and 
Mr. Rogers, and his little flock of faithful and 
affectionate friends, continued, without any mo- 
lestation, to assemble in that house for public 
worship for a period of nearly or quite twenty 
years. Within a dozen or fifteen years after 
its organization, nearly half the members of the 
second precinct had either died or left the town ; 
and among them Deacon White, the only, offi- 
cer of the church that adhered to IMr. Rogers, 
and his son Jonathan. Simon Butler was chos- 
en Deacon in 1763. Very few of the members 
of the first precinct ever attended meeting at 



ISO HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

the sclioolhouse, or permitted their children to 
do so. Once only did I ever hearj Mr. Rogers 
preach, and that was in the latter part of the 
winter of 1787. I have never forgotten the ap- 
pearance of the minister, nor some other cir- 
cmnstances of the occasion. There were bnt few 
present, and the ordinance of infiint baptism 
was administered. I thonght at the time, it 
was a pretty looking babe ; bnt did not dream 
that she Avas afterwards to be my wife. Bnt so 
it happened, and she was the last child Mr. Rog- 
ers baptized. 

In a few months after this, tlie ministerial 
relation betv/een Mr. Rogers and his people 
was dissolved, as will appear by the following 
discharge gi^'en by him to the precinct : 

" Know all men by tliese presents, that 
whereas the inliabitants of the second precinct 
in Leominster, have generonsly voted to give 
and grant to me John Rogers, of Leominster, 
the sum of forty-five pounds, payable in man- 
ner following, to wit : fifteen pounds to be paid 
in one year from the first day of March last, 
and fifteen pounds to be paid in two years 
from the first day of jMarch last, and fifteen 
pounds to be paid in three years from the first 
day of ]March last — in consideration thereof, I, 
the said John Rogers, do by these presents re- 



iilStORY OF LEOMINSTER. 181 

mise, release, quit claim and forever discharge 
the said second precinct of and from all claims 
or demands, actions or causes of actions, either 
in law or equity, for any service done by me 
for or towards them as a precinct, and upon the 
2:)ayment of the said forty-five pounds in man- 
ner aforesaid, I hereby acknowledge the said 
precinct is fully, effectually, and in the most 
ample manner exonerated and discharged from 
me of all demands of every kind that can be 
named or mentioned on any pretence whatever, 
the aforesaid sum being to my full satisfaction 
and contentment, as witness my hand and seal 
this twenty-fifth day of June, in the }ear of 
our Lord one thousand seven hundred and 
eighty-seven. JOHX ROGERS, [l. s.] 

Signed, sealed and delivered in presence of 

Nathaniel Carter, Jr., 

Asa Kendall. 

Mr. Rogers was the son of the Rev. John 
Rogers, of Boxford, in the County of Essex, 
and was born Sept. 2'lth, 1712. lie was grad- 
uated at II. U., in 1732, and ordained as the 
minister of this town at the mature age of 31 
years. Where, or in wliat manner, he had 
spent the eleven years j^receding his ordination, 
I have not the means of ascertaining ; but in 
IG 



182 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

all probability bis time was faitlifully devoted 
to tlie study of his profession ; and hence he 
had been enabled to discover more of the Di- 
vine truth than those ministers of the Council 
who rebuked and condemned him ; although 
they were all but three his seniors in College, 
and, with the exception of the Rev. IMr. Har- 
rington, were also his seniors in the ministry. 
Mr. Harrington was first settled at Swansey, 
N. H., and although I would not state it as a 
fact, yet I believe it was at so early a date, that 
even he does not form an exception. It has 
been more than intimated by several reverend 
clergymen, as Avell as by the learned historian of 
Lancaster, that at the time INIr. llogcrs was dis- 
missed, Mr. Harrington did not diiFcr from him 
in the least in regard to those doctrines for the 
preaching of which ^Mr. Rogers was condemned 
by the Council and turned away. There can 
be no doubt but that Mr. H. did change his 
opinion on some of the disputed doctrines of 
Christianity after he was installed at Lancas- 
ter ; but there are some ficts to be noted here- 
after which will go far to prove that this did 
not take place until after the successor of Mr. 
Rogers had been ordained over the first precinct 
in this town. A large proportion of the mem- 
bers of that i)recinct were Lancaster men. Not 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 183 

a few of them had heen brought up uuder ^h: 
Harrington's ministry from childliood. Could 
they be deceived in him I There was no min- 
ister in whom they placed more confidence. 
During the space of almost five years, while 
they were without a Pastor, ]Mr. Harrington 
baptized seven more of their children than all 
the other ministers who preached for them du- 
ring that time. If he were not all that time a 
decided Calvinist, he must have been a most 
consummate hypocrite, and totally unfit for the 
Gospel ministry.* But I an not writing the 
ecclesiastial history of Lancaster. 

* The following may serve to help correct a mistake, which, 
I feel confident, has prevailed to a considerable extent in regard 
to time. During the interim between Mr. Gardner's death, and the 
settlement of the ministry here, I was present at an interesting 
conversation between two aged men in relation to the proceedmga 
against Mr. Rogers. The elder of the two was born in Lancas- 
ter, attended on Mr. Harrington's preaching till about 17(>3, 
when he came to this town and united himself with the Church 
of the First Precinct. The younger was born in town, and ad- 
hered to Mr. Rogers; but after the two Precincts had been 
united, was chosen a Deacon of Mr. Gardner's Church. They 
agreed that at the time Mr. Gardner was ordained, he and Mr. 
Harrington differed but little, if any, in their religious opinions ; 
and that although the latter became liberal sooner than the for- 
mer, yet, at the end of twenty or twenty-five years, neither of 
them adhered to the belief of a single article of what formerly 
were called the five points of Calvinism. From the high com- 
mendations old people used to bestow upon Mr. H. in my young- 
er days, I cannot make myself believe he acted hypocritically. 



18-1 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

On the 27th of March, 1750, Mr. Rogers 
was married to Relief, a daughter of the Rev. 
John Prentice, of I^ancaster. They had seven 
cliildren.* Sarah B., the youngest daughter, 
was the wife of Capt. Luke Johnson, and died 
liere. The others were scattered abroad. There 
are none of his descendants now living in this 
town. 

But there ai"e still residing here a grand- 
son, and seven or eight great grand children 
of his sister Lydia, wlio was the wife of Abijah 
Smith. The other sister and a brother (Na- 
thaniel) left town many years ago.f 

" ]Mr. Rogers vras a man of intellectual pow- 
er," says Dr. Bancroft, in his half-century ser- 
mon, " and an inquisitive spirit, possessed of a 
name fitted to make a man independent in his 
opinions, and prepared to encounter every dif- 
iiculty in defence of religious truth." He was 
strictly an honest man. His moral character 
was never impeached. In conversation he was 
frank even to bluntness, and sometimes gave 
offence to, or wounded the feelings of his 
friends unintentionally. He was tenacious of 

* Relief, born July 25, 1753 ; John, March 27, 1755; Thom- 
as, June 3, 1757 -, Samuel, Sept. 30, 1758 ; Stephen Sewall, Oc- 
tober 5, 17G0 ; Sarah Bowers, June 26, 17G2 ; William Stanton, 
March 20, 17G5. 

fAbsalom P. Ford, of this town, is a great great grand child of 
Nathaniel. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 185 

his own opinion. Perhaps he thought too 
highly of the name. But no man is perfect, 
and his greatest fault, as I learned many years 
ago from those who knew him well, was a want 
of prudence. He commenced his ministry at 
a time when " an inquisitive spirit began to 
stir in the church." The people of his charge 
were mostly tillers of the ground. In the 
sweat of their face did they eat their bread. 
Comparatively but few of them had leisure for 
much reading ; but they were men of strong 
minds, and quite as tenacious of their own 
opinions as their Pastor was of his. Mr. Rog- 
ers, having obtained great light for himself, en- 
deavored to communicate too much to his people 
in a short time. Although it is unjustifiable 
and reprehensible in a minister to conceal his 
religious opinions, yet nothing can be more 
unwise and improper than to attempt to impart 
all he knows in a single sermon. And if Mr. 
E. had been more prudent in this matter, and 
" made them to understand doctrine " by ad- 
ministering " precept upon x^rece2)t, line upon 
line, here a little and there a little," in all 
probability he would have continued to be the 
minister of the whole town to the end of his life. 
Mr. Rogers died October 6, 1789, in the 
78th year of his age. In 1815, under the di- 



186 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

rection of a Committee of the First Congrega- 
tional Society in this town, consisting of Hon. 
Solomon Strong, Dr. Charles W. Wilder, and 
Abel C. Wilder, a marble monument was 
erected to his memory at an expense of about 
$100 ; one half of which was generously given 
by the Hon. Walter R. Johnson,* of Wash-- 
ington, D. C, a grandson of Mr. Rogers, and 
the balance was obtained, or furnished, in 
equal proportions by the Committee. The 
first wife of the last named on the Committee 
was a great grand daughter of Mr. Rogers. 
After Mr. Rogers had been dismissed, the 
toMTi seemed to be in no great haste in regard 
to a successor. Although the pulpit was for 
the most part supplied, yet the preachers, for 
several years at least, were not employed as 
candidates for settlement. " The neighboring 
ministers" kindly officiated often enough to 
administer the sacrament of the Lord's supper, 
and baptize the children. And among them, 
^Ir. Harrington seemed to be the favorite ; 
and, as has already been observed, baptized 
more children than all the other ministers. 
In some cases, five or six, and in one instance 
ten little ones received the baptismal seal at 



*Died suddenly early in July, 185^. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. IST 

his hands on a single Sabhatli. And even as 
late as the 7th of Xovember, 17()2, he baptized 
seven. On the 4th of February, 17G0, the 
church adopted a second covenant, materially 
different from the first, under which those who 
adhered to Mr. Eogers Avere content to live. 
These coA-enants, with others, may be found in 
the Appendix. After this time the candidates 
for settlement were somewhat numerous ; but 
it was not until the 20th of September, 1762, 
that the church made choice of one, and that 
was Mr. Francis Gardner, he having three 
more votes than Mr. Emerson. On the oth of 
October following, the town concurred with 
the church in the choice of Mr. Gardner, and 
offered him something more than £100 as a 
settlement, and £66.13.4. salary so long as he 
shall be their settled minister. lie gave his 
answer in the affirmative, and was ordained 
December 22, 1762. "Tliellev. Mr. Ilarrinj- 
ton^ of Lancaster, made the prayer ; ]Mr. Smith, 
of Marlborough, preached ; Mr. Gardner, of 
Stow, gave the charge ; ]Mr. Goss, of Bolton, 
prayed after the charge ; and Mr. Swift, of 
Acton, gave the right-hand of fellowship." For 
tlie first sermon which he preached after his 
ordination, he took for a text the 17th and 18th 
verses of the 3d cliapter of Ezekicl. 



188 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Although it was mtended that all who made 
a public profession of religion should assent to 
the second covenant by subscribing thereto ; 
yet so objectionable was it, that of the thirty- 
. seven males who united themselves with the 
church during the first ten years of Mr. Gard- 
ner 8 ministry, only seventeen could conscien- 
tiously subscribe to it. And of the twenty-seven 
who joined the church during the next ten 
years, only two signed the covenant. And in 
^ order to remedy the difficulty in part, a kind of 
half-way covenant was adopted, by assenting 
to which parents might offer their children in 
baptism without coming to full communion. 

During the first twenty years of Mr. Gard- 
ners' ministry, twenty-three males, and twenty- 
nine females recognized the half-way, or bap- 
tismal covenant ; and all such, without any 
further ceremony, had a right to come to full 
communion merely by giving notice to the pas- 
tor of tlieir intention so to do. Indeed, so high- 
ly objectionable was the covenant of 1760, that 
it was permitted by general consent to go out 
of use, and the following short confession was 
substituted in its place. 

" You openly and publicly profess your be- 
lief that there is one God who is a being of ui- 
linite and eternal perfection. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 1^0 

That the scriptures of the ohl and new testa- 
ment are the word of God, and a perfect rule 
of faith and manners. ' '^ 

You solemnly renew the dedication of your- 
self, or selves, to God, the Father, Son, and 
Holy Spirit. You own God as your God and 
Father, Jesus Christ as your Redeemer, and 
the Holy Ghost as your sanctifier to lead you 
to the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and to 
build you up in holiness and comfort. 

Finally, you promise to walk orderly in the 
communion of this church so long as your op- 
portunities to be hereby edified shall be con- 
tinued to you. You promise this." 

The records do not show at Avhat time the 
foregoing confession was adopted ; but it con- 
tains all that candidates for full communion 
were required to give their assent to, further 
back than the memory of the oldest member 
of the church now living extends. 

INIr. Gardner was on good terms with the 
neighboring clergymen (^Ir. Rogers always ex- 
cepted) and during the first year of his minis- 
try exchanged twice with Mr. ^Nlellen, of Ster- 
ling. Previous to the incorporation of the sec- 
ond precinct, the parochial aftairs of the oppo- 
nents of ^Ir. Rogers, were transacted in town 
meeting ; but afterwards in separate precinct 



190 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

meetings. But after the lapse of about twenty- 
seven years, the two precmcts, by another act 
of the General Court were again united. Wheth- 
er the leaven used by Mr. Rogers had leavened 
the Avhole lump, or whether those who adhered 
to him had changed their doctrinal views on 
religious subjects, is not for me to say. But 
certain it is, that for about twenty-six years af- 
ter the reunion, the inhabitants of this town 
lived, and publicly worshipped the God of their 
fathers, in the bonds of peace and harmony, hav- 
ing none to molest or make them afraid. 

For the last twenty years of Mr. Gardner's 
life, with one or two exceptions, the town an- 
nually voted an addition to his salary, making 
it up commonly to three hundred and fifty, and 
in one instance, to four hundred dollars. 

!Mr. Gardner was a son of E,ev. John Gard- 
ner of Stow ; was born Feb. 29, 1736 ; was 
graduated at Harvard University in 1755, and 
nearly twenty-seven years of age when he was 
ordained. 

The same year he Avas ordained he was mar- 
ried to Sarah, the only child of Mr. John Gib- 
son, of Lunenburg. They had fourteefi chil- 
dren, all of whom, with one exception, lived to 
be men and women. John the oldest son, be- 
ing now in his eighty-fifth year, continues to 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 191 

reside in this town ; and so do several of the 
daughters. One of them is the mother of tlie 
Hon. Charles G. Prentiss, the Register of Pro- 
bate for the County of AYorcester, and another 
is the wife of the Hon. Abijah Bigelow. 

IMr. Gardner was a man of sound under- 
standing, and of great learning. He was a 
thorough Biblical scholar ; and both in his 
sermons, and in his prayers, the quotations 
from the Scriptures were uniformly applicable 
and appropriate. He was a discreet and jiru- 
dent Pastor. And as a sermonizer, he excelled 
all the other ministers in the vicinity, as they 
themselves were ready to admit. But as an 
orator, the Rev. Mr. Adams, of Lunenburg, 
and some others, were far his su^^eriors. By a 
friend who has kindly furnished some printing 
statistics, I have been reminded of an anecdote 
which he and I used to hear related when we 
were young. Mr. Adams was not only a gi'cat 
orator, and a good minister, but occcasionally 
he was somewhat facetious. And it was said 
(truly, no doubt,) that on a certain occasion he 
expressed himself in language like the follo^^'- 
ing : '♦Let father Gardner write a sermon, and 
let me deliver it, and we w^ould beat the devil." 
Meaning, undoubtedly, that the effect of such 
sermons, thus delivered, would be to convince 



192 History of Leominster. 

the hearers, that, whenever they were enticed 
by the achersary to commit sin, they should 
iuimediately obey the precept given by St. 
James : " Resist the devil, and he will flee from 
thee." 

Mr. Gardner died suddenly, at "\^'atertovv'n, 
on his journey to Boston, June 2, 1814, in the 
seventy-ninth year of his age, and the fifty- 
second of his ministry. 

" The remains of Mr. Gardner lie in our (old) 
burying-ground, over which a table was erected 
by the town to commemorate his valuable ser- 
vices, and to express their gratitude and respect 
for him." In the sermon preached at his fun- 
eral by the late Dr. Thayer, of Lancaster, it 
was very truly said of Mr. Gardner, that " he 
viewed as of minor importance the speculations 
of men. He had a single eye to the investiga- 
tion of truth. As an adviser in controversies, 
he was happily free from precipitancy and prej- 
udice." "With a single exception, he out-lived 
all of those who were legal voters at the time 
of his settlement. And the partner of his life, 
the sharer of his joys and of his cares, survived 
him but a few months more than tlireq. years. 

Durmg the long period of Mr. Gardner s 
ministry, a great many changes took place in 
the religious, as well as in the civil and politi- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 193 

ciil concerns of men. Previous to his time it 
had not been customary here, to read the bible 
as a part of the public worship on the Sabbath; 
This practice was introduced by him in 1765. 
And long after this, it was the custom for all 
in the congregation who could sing, to join in 
that part of the worship. And even as late as 
1785, as I well remember, some of those aged 
men used to hold on to those body seats with 
both hands, and raise their stentorian voices to 
a very high pitch. And about this time, it was 
also customary, after the minister had read the 
hymn, for one of the deacons to " line it," that 
is, the deacon would read a line, and then the 
choir would sing it, and so on to the end of the 
hymn. Some time after this practice had gone 
out of use here, the Rev. Mr, A. of L., preached, 
and after having read the hymn, reached the 
book down to the deacon, as much as to say, 
take this, sir, and' perform your duty. The 
deacon was civil enough to rise and take the 
book ; but he understood his own duty too 
well " to line the hymn." About the year 
1790, the singing was much improved through 
the aid and influence of A. Johnson, Esq., and 
musical instruments were carried into the mecL- 
ing-house. This gave offence to some of the 
aged men. They were not at that time quite 
17 



194 HISTORY OF LEOMlNSTElJ. 

prepared to praise their Maker in public " with 
stringed instruments and organs, or upon high 
sounding cymbals." And on two occasions, 
as soon as the bassoon was heard, the aged 
senior deacon took his hat and walked out of 
the meeting-house. 

During Mr. Gardner's ministry, the second 
meeting-house was erected. The subject was 
agitated in the meetmgs of the first precinct 
six or seven yeai-s before it was settled. At 
length, on the third of May, 1773, it was voted 
to build, and that the frame should be raised 
by the first of June, 177-i. A site, containing 
rather more than an acre, was purchased of 
Mr. Hufus Houghton, at the rate of £S per 
acre, being what is now the common, in front 
of the First Congregational Meeting House. 
The precise dimensions of the house are not 
known, but probably it was sixty feet in length, 
and fifty feet in width. It fronted to the east, 
and at each end there was a iDorch, and m each of 
those porches were two flights of stairs to the 
gallery. On the lower floor there were eigh- 
teen square pews m the body of the house, and 
thirty around on the walls. The pulpit was 
on the west side of the house, and in fi-ont and 
underneath that was the deacon's seat, and over 
the pulpit was suspended a very large sound- 



msTORY OF LEOMIN^STER. 195 

board. From the double doors in front, to the 
pulpit, was a broad aisle, a wide one all around 
by the wall pews, and a narrow one from one 
porch to the other. In front of the pulpit on 
either side, were three rows of seats 'for aged 
people. In the gallery there were twenty-three 
square pews around by the wall, besides the 
two in the corner for colored people. In front 
of the gallery pews there were three rows of 
seats, and those on the east side were occupied 
by the singers. It was well finished, both out- 
side and inside ; and for those times M'as con- 
sidered "a large and an elegant meeting-house." 
The expense of the house cannot be ascertained. 
It does not appear from the records, that more 
than £140 were raised by a tax. The pews 
were sold before the house was built, and prob- 
ably for enough to defray the whole expense. 
The house was erected by the united efforts of 
both precincts, and of course, was considered 
the town's property, and the town-meetings 
were held in it for nearly fifty years. In 1824, 
it was taken down and converted into a town- 
house, and used as such twenty-seven years to 
November 1, 1851, when the new brick town- 
house had been completed. The former is fifty 
feet by forty, and the latter eighty feet by fifty-" 
seven, and both are two stories, high. 



19G HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

AVe liave now arrived at a point where we 
may take an observation of the second eclipse 
in our ecclesiastical history. The Kev. Mr. 
Gardner, in his half century sermon, preached in 
1812, says "that tw^o things have been particu- 
larly agreeable to him, in the course of his min- 
istry ; the candor with wiiich the people had at- 
tended upon his administrations, and the little 
attention they had paid to those rambling preach- 
ers who go about to promote discoixl and con- 
fusion." But notwithstanding the harmony that 
had prevailed during the unusually long minis- 
try of Mr. Gardner, it was hardly to be expected 
there would be anything like perfect unanimity 
in the choice of a successor ; and not a few looked 
forwa-rd to that time with "fear and trem- 
bling." The committee chosen to provide preach- 
ing after Mr. Ga,rdncr's death, could find but 
three young gentlemen from whom a selection 
was to be made. Those were Messrs. David Da- 
mon, wdio was afterwards settled in Lunenburg, 
.Joseph Allen the present minister of North- 
boro', and Thomas Prentiss ; and they engaged 
Mr. Prentiss to preach as a candidate. And in 
January, 1815, the church, by a vote of 22 to 
eleven, invited him to become their pastor ; but 
the toAvn non-concurred. Mr. Prentiss was sub- 
sequently settled over the Harvard church \i\ 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 197 

CharlcstowTi, where, after a distressing illness, 
of eleven days, lie died, October 5tli, 1817, 
greatly lamented. 

In February, the church, by a vote of 81 to 
12, made choice of the Itev. AVm. Bascom to be 
their minister ; and in March, the town, by a 
vote of 197 to 25 concurred, and offered him a 
salary fii-st of $'550, and afterwards $'600, which 
he accepted, and he was installed May 10, 
1815. The churches in\dted on the occasion 
were Shirley, Ashburnham, Lincoln, Cambrid^-e, 
Princeton, Orleans, Templetoii, Lunenburg, 
Sterling, Lancaster, Bolton, Cambridgeport, Har- 
vard, and Fitchburg. Introductory prayer by 
Kev. Nath. Thayer, of Lancaster. Sermon by 
Rev. Jas. INIurdock of Princetjon. Consecrating 
prayer by Abiel Holmes, D. D. of Cambridge. 
Charge by Rev. John Gushing of Ashburnham. 
Right hand of fellowship by Rev. Thomas B. 
Gannet of Cambridgeport. Concluding prayer 
by Rev. Charles Wellington of Templeton. 

Various undue influences, both from within, 
and from without, were brought to bear upon 
the question of Mr. Bascom's settlement in this 
town. And those who are desirous of learning- 
many of the particulars in the case, are referred 
to the piinted centennial discourse of the Rev. 
R. P. Stebbens, delivered Sept- 24th, 1813. Suf. 



198 HISTORY OF LEO^riXSTEK. 

fice it for mo to say, here, that those in town 
who had exerted the most influence in favor of 
the measure were the first to be dissatisfied, and 
tlie most active in breaking up the connection. 

In 1819 the subject was brought before the 
town in an Article inserted in the warrant, and 
by a vote of seventy-two to fifty-nine, dissatis- 
faction was expressed with the minister, and a 
committee appointed to confer with him on the 
subject'. After an exchange of several written 
communications, a personal interview was had 
between one member of the committee and Mr. 
Bascom, the result of which was, that, in a few 
days afterwards, he sent in a Avritten request to 
be dismissed; that request was complied with 
on the part of the town, a council was convened, 
and the connection between him and the church 
was dissolved, March second, 1820, after a min- 
istry of about five years, 

Mr. Bascom, like all the rest of us, had his 
failings ; but he was possessed of many good 
qmdities. lie was very able in prayer, and es- 
pecially at funerals. lie was attentive to the 
wants of his people in their sickness and dis- 
tress. He manifested a commendable interest 
in the education of the young, both in a moral 
as well as in an intellectual point of view. As 

sermonizer, he failed. A stranger of great 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 190 

discrimination being accidentally at meeting 
one Sabbath, on being asked what he hfxd 
gathered from Mr. B's sermon, replied that " he 
had not gathered any thing." Mr. Bascom left 
town soon after his dismission. He was grad- 
uated at Harvard University, in 1802, and had 
been settled in the ministry at Fitchburg before 
he came here. He died in 18i5. 

As was to be ex^iected, and as was predicted 
by some of those who voted against Mr. Bas- 
com, both in the Church and in tlie Town, he 
liad laid the foundation for at least one more 
religious society to be organized sooner or later 
in this town. And it was under such circum- 
stances that the Church, on the 23d of October, 
1820, invited Mr. Abel Conant to become their 
Pastor. ■♦ On the 6th of November following, 
the Town concurred with the Churcli by a vote 
of 121 in the affirmative, and none in the neg.- 
ative. They also offered him ^600 salary, and 
three Sabbaths in the year for his own use. ]\Ir. 
Conant accepted the call, and was ordahicd Jan- 
uary 24th, 1821, (the coldest day in my remem- 
brance.) Ecv. Mr. Damon, made the introduc- 
tory prayer ; Il(>v. Mr. ^Moorc, of ^Milford, X. 
H., preached ; ^Ir. Allen, of Bolton, made the 
consecrating prayer, ^[r. Thayer, of Lancas- 
rer. gave the charge ; Dr.' Puffer, of Berlin, ad- 



200 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER, 

dressed the society, Mr. Bedee, of Wilton, gave 
the right hand of fellowship ; Mr. Clark, of 
Princeton, made the concluding prayer. The 
other Churches represented in the Council, 
were in Groton, Westminster, Fitchburg, Win- 
chcndon and Sterling. 

For one of the first sermons Mr. Conant 
preached here (and I believe the very first) he 
took for his text the whole of the parable of 
the prodigal son, in the 15th chapter of Luke. 
He dwelt upon the danger of sin and wicked- 
ness ; especially of anger, extravagance and de- 
bauchery — explained the doctrines of repen- 
tance and forgiveness — alluded to the joys in 
heaven over repentance — and enlarged upon 
the fulness of the promises given by the Fath- 
er, through his Son, Jesus Christ, to all man- 
kind, on condition that they turn from their evil 
doings, and live lives of holiness and virtue. 
And this was a sample of his general preach- 
ing. He had marked out a plan for a whole 
life, and from a well stored mmd brought forth 
things new and old as the wants of tlie people 
of his charge required. He was a thorough 
Greek scholar — a sound reasoner — a quick and 
ready writer — a worth)*, and useful man — and 
a most excellent minister. He was born in 
Milford, N. H., July ITth, 1793, and gradua- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 201 

ted at Dartmouth College in 1815. He was 
the Preceptor of Groton Academy several years 
while he was studying his profession. 

On the 15 th of Xovember, 1821, Mr. Conant 
was married to Miss Rebecca Adams, of Am- 
herst, N. H., by whom he had two daughters. 
He died of scrofula, on the 6th of December, 
1836. His youngest daughter survived him 
only about five months. A granite monument, 
erected by the Society, marks the spot where 
his remains rest, in the South-' Westerly corner 
of the old burying-ground. " Blessed are the 
dead who die in the Lord." Among the im- 
portant events which occurred during Mr. Co- 
nant's ministry was the erection of the third 
meeting-house by the town ; the organization 
of three more religious societies ; and the 
erection of three other houses for public wor-^ 
ship. 

On the 8th of December, 1821, the town vo- 
ted to build a new meeting-house, and to place 
it on land which, some years before had been 
purchased for the purpose, of the widow Maria 
Chase ; and at the same time chose a committee 
of eleven, to whom discretionary powers and 
instructions were given, to carry the whole ob- 
ject into effect. It was a neat and commodious 
building, seventy-five feet in length, sixty-twQ 



202 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

feet in width, and contained one hundred and 
thirty pews. The belfry and steeple rest part- 
ly on the front end of the house, and partly on 
a colonade, thirty-two feet in height, which 
projects five feet from the front, and was fin- 
ished in the Ionic order. 

The house was completed early in the fall 
of 1823, at a cost of ^8000 ; and the pews were 
sold for ^IGOO more than enough to cover this 
sum. A part of the j^lGOO was appropriated 
to the purchase of an organ. " The town were 
indebted to the generosity and public spirit of 
one of its citizens, the late Joel Crosby, Esq., 
for the donation of a bell, which, to this day, 
on every Sabbath morning, invites the members 
of all the religious societies, to the worship of 
God." 

In the forenoon of October 15, 1823, the 
Rev. Mr. Conant preached a sermon on leaving 
the second, or, as it was then called, the old 
meeting-house, and in the afternoon of the 
same day, the new one Avas dedicated. The 
introductory prayer was made by the Rev. Mr. 
Damon, of Lunenburg, — the dedicatory prayer, 
by Rev. Dr. Thayer, of Lancaster, — the sermon 
was preached by the Pastor, from the words, 
" And the Disciples ivere called Christians first 
in Antioch.'' (Acts 11, 26.) "A large audi- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 203 

ence were highly gratified with the services ; 
several pieces of sacred music were sung, in a 
style Avhich did great credit to the choir of 
singers in Leominster." 

The town continued to manage the parochial 
affairs until May 4, 1835, when " The First 
Congregational Society of Leominster," was or- 
ganized according to law. " Near the close of 
Mr. Conant's ministry, by the will of the late 
Joel Crosby, Esq., the deacons of the churcli, 
as trustees, received a donation of one thousand 
dollars, the interest of which was to be be ap- 
propriated to the support of the parish, and, 
by the same will, three hundred dollars was 
given for the purchase and erection of a clock 
in the tower of the meeting-house. The clock 
was not erected till the spring of 1837. The 
fund became available in 1838." The ordinary 
expenses of the society are defrayed by an 
annual tax upon the polls and estates of the 
members, and the burden is comparatively a 
light one. Of the eighteen men who constitu- 
ted the several committees for building the 
house, selling the pews, taking charge of the 
securities, and paying off the debt, all are gone 
to their final account, with two exceptions. 
The labors of the last committee referred to, 
were not brought to a close till November, 



^04 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



1831. Ill 1850, the house was new modelled 
and finished up in more modern style, inside 
and outside ; but the steeple of beautiful archi- 
tectural symmetry, remains ; and so do the bell 
and clock, reminding man every hour that he 
is passing away. 

The following are the names of those who 
were on the several committees, before men- 
tioned : 

Solomon Strong, Jonas Kendall, Joel Crosby, 
Bezaleel Lawrence, William Burrage, Eufus 
Kendall, Israel Xichols, Wilder Carter, Charles 
Hills, Abel Carter, John Taylor, Joseph G. 
Kendall, AVilliam Perry, Levi Nichols, Abra- 
ham Haskell, Jr., John Buss, Jr., Jonathan 
Merriam, and David Wilder. 

Only the last two survive. In age, nine of 
them were younger than the one who now re- 
cords the fact. 

In the spring of 1837, Mr. Henry A. Walk- 
er was engaged to preach as a candidate, and 
in June of that year, the church and society 
acting together, invited him to become their 
minister, by a vote of thirty-nine to nineteen. 
But he declined the invitation, and died a few 
months after, at one of the West India Islands, 
whither he had gone for the recovery of his 
health. In July, following, Mr. Hufus Phinehas 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 205 

Stebbins preached as a candidate, and subse- 
quently by a vote of one hundred and sixty-four 
in the affirmative and none in the negative, the 
church and society invited him to become their 
minister, with a salary of six hundred dollars, 
payable semi-annually in advance. He accep- 
ted the invitation and was ordained Sept. 20, 
1837. The services on the occasion were as 
follows : Prayer and reading of the Scriptures 
by !Jlev. Peter Osgood, of Sterling. Sermon by 
H. Ware, Jr., D. D., of the University church, 
Cambridge. Ordaining prayer by Rev. Isaac 
Allen, of Bolton. Charge by Dr. Thayer, Lan- 
caster. Right hand of fellowship, Rev. Calvin 
Lincoln, Fitchburg. Address to the society, 
Rev. A. B. Muzzey, Cambridgcport. Conclud- 
ing prayer, Rev. Joseph Allen, of Northboro'. 
The other two churches on the council were 
Harvard and AYorcester. During the ministry 
of Mr. Stcbbins, the debt of ^'^2000 due for the 
land on which the meeting-house stands, was 
paid — a parsonage house v/ as purchased by sun- 
dry members of the society — a donation of ^1- 
000 for the support of a " settled minister " in 
the society was made by the late Bezaleel Lawr 
rence, Esq., — the clock in front of the gallery 
was given by Joseph AVoodward Esq., who at 
the time, was residing in town with his neph- 
18 



206 HISTORY OF LEOMlNSTES. 

ew, the late Dr. C. "VV. Wilder — and just be- 
fore the ordination, an elegant Oxford Bible 
was presented to the society for the nse of the 
pnlpit, by the late Hon. James G. Carter, of 
Lancaster, a native of this town. The connec- 
tion between Mr. Stebbins and the society was 
dissolved by mutual consent in 1 84-4, he having 
accepted a call " to preside over an institution in 
Meadville, Penn., for the preparation of young 
men for the ministry." For a more particular 
and minute account of the ministry of Mr. Steb- 
bins, the reader is referred to his centennial dis- 
course, and to the two printed sermons preach- 
ed by him Sept. 15, 184:4:. Mr. Stebbins was 
born in Wilbraham in this State, March 3d, 
1810 — was graduated at Amherst college — 
studied his profession at the Theological School 
at Cambridge — was married to Miss Eliza C. 
Livermore of that town, Sept. 11, 1837, and re- 
moved to this town on the 16th of the same 
month. He still continues at the Meadville 
college. 

On the 15th of Oct., 1844, Mr. Hiram AVith- 
ington, then recently from the Theological 
School at Cambridge, was unanimously invited 
to become the minister of the society, with a 
salary of seven hundred dollars. He accepted 
the call; and was ordained on the 25th of the 
following December. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 207 

The Eev. Nathaniel Hall of Dorchester, 
preached the sermon. The Rev. George Put- 
nam, of" Roxbury, gave the charge. The right 
hand of fellowship was given by the Rev. J. H. 
Allen, of Jamaica Plains. And the Rev. Joseph 
Allen, of jSTorthboro', add ressedthe society. The 
other services were by the Rev. INf essrs. Lincoln, 
of Fitchburg, Hill of Worcester, Huntington of 
Boston, Wilson of Grafton, Edes, of Bolton, 
and Gilbert of Harvard. Rev. Messrs. Sears 
of J^ancaster, and Fosdick of Sterling, were also 
on the Council. 

" Man that is born of a woman is of few days, 
and full of trouble. He cometh forth like a 
flower, and is cut down ; he fleeth also as a 
shadow and continueth not." 

The ministry of Mr. Withington was com- 
paratively short, and interrupted by sickness, 
trial and death. It cannot therefore be known 
whether, if his life had been spared, and his 
health restored, he would have been a, success- 
ful servant of Jesus Christ or not. Nor wheth- 
er he would have been able to accomplish the 
object nearest his heart, the " Church Reform." 
The connection between him and the society 
was dissolved by mutual consent, July 31, 1848. 

IMr. Withington, son of Isaac Withington, 
was born in Dorchester, July 29, 1818, and on 



208 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

the 19th of Nov., 1844, was married by Rev. 
Nath. Hall, to Miss Elizabeth H. Clapp, daugh- 
ter of Mr. William Clapp, of that town. She 
died in this town, Dec. 2d, 1845, leaving a son 
only a few days old, and her remains were car- 
ried to Dorchester for interment. 

On the 21st of Feb. 1848, Mr. Withington 
was married to Miss Phila A. Field, a sister of 
Dr. C. C. Field, of this town, who still survives 
her husband. 

Soon after his dismission, Mr. Withington 
remoA^ed with his family to Dorchester, where 
he died Oct. 30, 1848. Agreeably to his own 
request, made a few days before his death, his 
remains were brought to this town for inter- 
ment, and a marble monument erected by his 
friends mark the spot in the new cemetery 
where they rest. 

In his farewell discourse delivered Sept. 3, 
1848, in reference to a successor, Mr, Withington 
speaks as follows : "I need not say to you, when 
again you have settled a minister, give him free- 
dom, power, attention, co-operation. I need not 
say that all his usefulness depends as much up- 
on you as upon him. But this let me say, for 
his sake and yours. Give him your sympathy 
and confidence. Open to him your minds and 
hearts. Entrust him with your spiritual expe- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 209 

lience, your aims and struggles, your difficul- 
ties and doubts. You will thus most effectual- 
ly aid and encourage him in his labors. Thus 
will he be better enabled to understand and 
meet your wants, and secure the best influence 
over you, wlien you have come near to him in 
friendship and confidence. Thus you will bes- 
tow upon him the greatest pleasure, and the 
highest reward of his efforts. Do not wait for 
him to make tlie first advances, but open your- 
selves the way to freedom of intercourse, and 
real communion of mind and spirit." 

On the 19th of Oct. 1848, the society invited 
the Rev. Amos Smith to become their minister, 
and offered him a salary of eight hundred dol- 
lars, lie accepted the invitation, and was in- 
stalled on Sunday, Nov. 26, 1848. The Rev, 
Dr. Gaimett of Boston, preached the sermon, 
and the other services were performed by the 
Rev. Messrs. Lincoln of Fitchburg, Wilson 
of- Grafton, and Doctor Parkman of Boston. 
Mr. Smith was graduated at Harvard Univer- 
sity in 1838 — -studied his profession at the 
Theological School, Cambridge, and for a num- 
ber of years was colleague Pastor with Doctor 
Parkman. Of his ministry here it does not 
become me to write. He must speak for him- 
self. I may however be permitted to express 



210 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

the hope, that he will lay out his work for a 
life — that he will continue to administer con- 
solation to the aged, the sick, and the afflicted 
— that he will lead the young in the right way, 
and that at the close of a long and successful 
ministry here, when his departure shall be at 
hand, he may be able to say, " I am now ready 
to be offered, I have fought a good tight, I have 
finished my course, I have kept the faith. Hence- 
forth there is laid up for me a crown of rightous- 
ness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall 
give me at that day." 

Having traced the e«clesiastical history of 
the town, of the first and second precincts, the 
first Congregational Society, their ministers and 
places of public worship, down to the present 
time, through a period of more than one hundred 
and nine years since the first vote was passed to 
settle a minister — it may be proper now to give 
some account of the three other religious socie- 
ties that have been organized 'here since the 
dismission of the third minister and the erection 
of the third meeting-house. And this I shall 
endeavor to do in the best way I can from the 
information I have been able to obtain in 
relation to them. 

As was to be expected, and as was predicted 
by those who were opposed to the settlement 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 211 

of Mr. Bascom, he adopted and pursued a 
course, the natural and inevitable tendency of 
which was, to disturb and destroy that peace 
and harmony, which, in such an eminent degree, 
had prevailed in this towTi, during the last half 
of the Rev. INIr. Gardner's ministry. But 
whether for the better or for the worse, would 
not become me, here, to express an opinion. 
My business is with the facts, so far as they 
are attainable. Those who are desirous of 
reading a more full account of the troubles of 
those times, are referred to Mr. Stebbins' Cen- 
tennial, pp. 49 to 55. 

" The Evangelical Church " was organized in 
this town by an exparte ecclesiastical council, 
December 25, 1822, and consisted often mem- 
bers. The first meeting-house was built in 
1824, and located Northerly from the common, 
nearly half way to the burying-ground, on land 
that was formerly owned by Ebcnezer Hough- 
ton. This house was sold to the Methodist 
Society, in 1838. 

Their second meeting-house stands South- 
westerly of the common, on land originally 
owned by Rufus Houghton, and was dedicated 
to the worship of God, February 8, 1837. In 
May, 1850, this house was struck by lightning, 
and came very near being destroyed. In re- 



212 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

pairing it the pews were taken out and altered, 
and additions made in the galleries, at an ex- 
pense of ^3000. It is now a neat and commo- 
dious house, with a steeple and convenient 
vestry. 

The first minister, Mr. Phillips Payson, a son 
of the late Dr. Seth Payson, for many years the 
pastor of the church in Rindge, N. H., was or- 
dained Nov. 17, 1825, and dismissed, on ac- 
count of ill health, April 17,1832. He mar- 
lied a daughter of the late Mr. James Boutell, 
of this town, and now resides in the State of 
New York. 

The successor of Mr. Payson, as pastor of 
this Church, w\as the Rev. O. G. Hubbard, of 
Sunderland, and a graduate of Amherst College 
in 1829. He was ordained May 23, 1833, and, 
after a faithful and successful ministry, was 
dismissed in June, 1851. And we have now ar- 
lived under the shadow of the third eclipse in 
the ecclesiastical affairs of this town. The ac^ 
count is a short one, and I shall endeavor to 
relate it as nearly as possible in the words of 
the Rev. member of the council of dismission, 
from whose lips I received it. '-Not one single 
accusation did the ojoponents of Mr Hubbard 
allege against him. Not one of them ventur- 
ed even to intimate that he had been unfaithful 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 213 

in the ministry. The whole truth may be sum- 
med up in these words. It was a political af- 
fair. Mr Hubbard, althougli a most decided 
anti-slavery man, was not a radical abolitionist. 
He w^as unwilling to violate the Constitution of 
the United States, and cause a dissolution of 
the Union, by improperly interfering with the 
reserved rights of any of the individual states. 
And this was the front of his offending — this 
was the sole cause of his dismission. " * 

Mr. Hubbard has been a most excellent citi- 
zen, and has taken great interest in the welfare 
of the schools, having been a member of the 
school committee every year since his settle- 
ment^ A very large proportion of the inhabi- 
tants regret to have him leave town, and, 
wherever he may be, their good wishes wdll ac- 
company him.f 

The Kev. Joel S. Bingham, a graduate of Ma- 
rietta College, Ohio, and lately minister of 

*The late Rev. VVm. M. Rogers of Boston. 

f Eliza, the eldest child of ilr. Hubbard, an accomplished and 
a well educated young lady, died Feb. G, 1852. And some few 
months afterwards, he removed with his family to East Falmouth, 
to preach for a time to a religious society in that place. He died 
of typhus fever, Aug. 14, 1852, aged 47, and his remains are in- 
terred in the New Cemetery in this town. Peace be to his ash- 
es, and comfort and consolation to his afflicted widow, who, with 
her surviving children has returned to reside here. 

A handsome marble Monument has been errected by his 
friends, or by the society, to the memory of Mr. Hubbard. 



214: HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

Charlotte in Vermont, was installed pastor of 
tills churcli and society, Dec. 17, 1851. It 
would be unreasonable for the town or the 
society to expect more of him than to make 
his worthy predecessor's place good. 

The Methodist Episcopal Society in this 
town was formed March 27, 1823, at the resi- 
dence of Nathan Stratton. John Stratton was 
clioscn clerk. The cliurch was legally organ- 
ized March 10, 1828. The first meeting-house 
w^as located in the Easterly part of the town at 
the junction of the Shirley and Harvard roads. 
It was dedicated in December, 1829. The sec- 
ond meeting-house was purchased of the Evan- 
gelical Society in 1838, and occupied for the 
first time on the first Sabbath in January, 1839. 
This house was enlarged and a handsome stee- 
ple erected in 1849. 

The mode of securing the services of preach- 
ers is as follows : 

" At the annual conference, which usually 
embraces the travelling ministers within a tract 
nearly as4arge as a State, the President of the 
conference with the advice of a council of elders 
who have charge of Districts within the bounds 
of the Conference and visit each church quar- 
terly, determine the stations of the preachers 
for the ensuing year, never apportioning the 



History of leominster. 215 

same man to one place more than two years in 
snccession. Each preacher goes to his station 
previous to any stipulation or agreement with 
the Society for his own support, except the pro- 
vision made in the Discipline, which is ^^100 
for himself — $100 for liis wife, if he have one 
— $16 for each child under 7 — and ^$24 for 
each child over 7 and under 14 years. In ad- 
dition to this the discipline pro^'ides that the 
stewards (oihcers in each church who are to 
raise supplies for the preacher) shall furnish 
the preacher a house, and they sliall estimate 
the amount which his family shall need for fuel 
and table expenses, and they are to defray his 
travelling or moving expenses. The payment 
of the above amount is left to the honor of the 
people ; they are not legally bound to pay a 
dollar. The allowance of the preacher is raised 
by voluntary subscriptions and contributions." 
There is no church covenant except the arti- 
cles of faith and the general rules in the Disci- 
pline. The ministers who have preached since 
1823 are Erastus Otis, Geo. E. Fairbanks, Benj- 
Hazelton, John E. Risley, Ira M. Bidwell, John 
Lmdsay, Jared Perkins, H. S. Ramsdell, Joel 
Steele, L. B. Griffin, T. W. Tucker, Nathan 
Rice, AVarren Emerson, Lemuel Harlow, Elias 
E. Scott, Jefferson Haskell, Sanford Benton, 



216 HISTORY OP LEOMINSTER. 

Henry Mayo, Leonard Frost, E. F. Newell, Lu- 
man Boydeii, Ei^hraim Culver, John C. Good- 
rich, Benjamin Paine, William A. Clapp, Hor» 
ace Moiilton, Tho. H. Mudge, J. C. Ingals, H. 
C. Dunham, Samuel Tu23per and Daniel Steele. 

At first the ministers were circuit preachers, 
hence there were frequently two or three at a 
time. 

Mr. Henry Perry has kindly furnished me 
with an account of the origin and progress of 
the Baj)tist Church and Society in this town, 
from which I extract the following : 

Early in the ministry of the Eev. Mr. Bas- 
Com, those persons in this town who embraced. 
Baptist sentiments united with the Baptist So- 
ciety in Holdcn. The first Baptist preaching 
and the first baptisms in town, were in 1820. 
In August, 1822, those who had joined the 
diurch in Holden, with others to the number 
of sixty-five, were dismissed to form a church 
in Princeton, the members living in this town 
constituting a branch with the privilege of 
sustaining the ministry among themselves. On 
the 30th of August, 1824, David Allen and 
nine others were organized into a Calvinistic 
Baptist Society. But this is to be distinguish- 
ed from the Branch Church, which, for fifteen 
years, was supplied with preaching by the fol- 



aiSTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 217 

lowing among other ministers, viz : Rev. Jolin 
A\ alkcr, A. Sampson, Elisha Andrews, Nicholas 
Branch, Elias McGregory, Luther Goddard, 
Apple ton Belknap, and Samuel Glover. • In 
1837, the Hev. Moses Harrington was chosen 
Pastor, and in June following the Branch w^as 
publicly re-organized as a distinct and inde^ien- 
dent Church of Christ- 

In 1840, Eev. David Goddard succeeded Mr. 
Harrington, and his successors were Josiah C. 
Carpenter, David Taylor and B. H. Clift. The 
first Baptist Church vras dissolved October 27, 
1849, and a Church, formed principally from 
the members of the first, was publicly constitu- 
ted March 10, 1850, denominated " the Central 
Baptist Church of Leominster." A new Society 
had been organized about three months previ- 
ous to the last date. The Rev. A. M. Swain, 
the present incumbent, was chosen 2^^"^stor 
March 10, 1850. • The first place of worship 
was a building formerly used by Mr. John 
Richardson as a tailor's shop. Their first meet- 
ing house v/ as erected on the plain, near the 
river and the mills, and was dedicated in June 
183 2. This house was small, and had been sold, 
and a new one erected in the centre of the town 
on land purchased of the " First Congregation- 
list Society." It is a large and commodious 
19 



218 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

house with a steeple, and makes an elegant ap- 
pearance, standmg as it does between the two 
town houses. 

Itfwas dedicated to the worship of Almighty 
God in January, 1850.* 

The following is a list of the Deacons of the 
Churches, under l\Ir. Rogers, while minister of 
the town : 

CHOSEN. ■ DIED. 

1743, Nov. 10, Jonathan White.f 

1743, Nov. 10, Gardner Wilder, 1787. April 24. 

1747, Dec. 2, James Boutell. 1752, Aug. 22. 

1747, Dec. 2, Benjamin Whitcomb, 1778, Oct. 

While minister of the second precinct, Jonathan White. 

1765, March 19. Simon Butler, 1795, Apr. 9, aged 80, 

Under Mr. Gardner and his successors. 

Gardner Wilder, 1787, April 24. 
Benjamin Whitcomb, 
17G3, Dec. 2, Jotham White. 
1767, Oct. 1, Oliver Hoar. 

1769, March 30, Israel Nichols, 1802,Oct.l2,aged 82. 

1769, March 30, John Joslin, Jr., 1810, Sept. 6 aa;ed 75. Rf.sigxed 

1775, June 17. David Wilder, 1815, Dec.6, aged 75. 1810. 

1775, June 17', Ephraim Carter, 1817, May 7 aged 68. 1814. 

1797, Mar. 30, Abij ah Butler, 1822,Jan.l9 aged 71. 1814. 

1801, June 5, John Buss, 1845,0ct. 31,aged 86. 1814. 

1810, May 21, John Boutell, 1837,Aug. 9,aged 74. 

1814, Mar. 31, Wm. Burrage, Jr. 1844,Aug. 9,aged 76. 

1814, Mar. 31, Abel Kendall, 1846,Aug.l3,aged75. 1819. 
1814, Mar. 31, David Wilder, Jr., 1848. 

1S19, July 2, Jonathan Merriam, 1853, Apr. 17, 1833. 

1824, Nov. 7, Otis Stearns, 

1835, Jan. 3, Charles Hills, 1851, Blay 7. 
1844, Nov. 7, Ward M. Cotton. 
1848, May 19, Emory Burrage. 
1851, June 21, Abel C. Wilder. 

* Since the 4th of July, 1851, the meeting house on the plain 
has been purchased and fitted up for a place of public worship 
of a small Congregation of Roman Catholics, 

f A descendant from Peregrine. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 219 

Evangelical Church, under Mr. Payson 
and his successor. 

1822, Abel Wood. 1822, Albert Smith. 
1832, James Boutelle. 1835, Peter Farwell. 

The Methodists have no such officers as Dea- 
cons among the Laity. The following are the 
names of the seven stewards now in office : Al- 
bert Stratton, Forester Rice, J. C. Lane, J. W. 
Coolidge, J. B. Bodel, F. W. Whitney and H. 
W. Knowles. 

Baptist Church, after it had ceased to be a 
branch of the Church in Princeton, and was 
organized in this town. 

Samuel Crocker, James S. Parker, William 
Howe, INIicah R Ball, William AValker, Jona- 
than Burrage, Luther Severance, Foster Taylor. 



APPENDIX. 



The day on which Mr. Eogers was ordamed, 
Sept. 14, 1743, O. S., the first church was or- 
ganized, and adopted the following 

COVENANT. 

Being persuaded that we are now called of 
God to come into the state of a Gospel Church, 
we do it, therefore, freely in a solemn and relig- 
ious manner, reflecting on our owm unworthi- 
ness, admirmg the mercy and condescension of 
God, and trustmg in his promised grace. Ac- 
cordingly, in the presence of God and man we 
make these solemn declarations respecting our 
faith and practice. 

Declaring our hearty belief of the Christian 
religion comprised in the Holy Scriptures we 
firmly resolve, that (studying and meditating in 
the word of God, both day and night,) we will 
thereunto habitually coniform our lives. 

We dedicate ourselves to the Lord Jehovah, 



22*2 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

(to the Father, Son and Holy Spirit,) and take 
him for our eternal portion. We give up our- 
selves to the Lord Jesus Christ, the Head of the 
Church, as our Prophet, Priest and King, 

"VVe promise constantly, and in an exemplary 
manner, to observe all the duties of the Moral 
Law, to live soberly, righteously, and piously, 
keeping consciences void of offence towards God 
and man. We resolve to walk together as be- 
comes a church of our Lord Jesus Christ, in the 
faith and order of the Gospel, according to the 
best light we can obtain, diligently attending 
the public worship of God, the sacraments of 
the New Testament, and all his sacred institu- 
tions ; watching over one another in meekness 
and tenderness. 

We promise likewise, if any children shall be 
committed to our care, to educate them m the 
nurture and admonition of the Lord, 

We promise to be sincerely and regularly 
concerned for our neighbors' welfare, both tem- 
poral and spiritual ; to do no injury ; to give 
no offence ; but to do what in us lies to pro- 
mote the happiness of all, (with whom we shall 
be concerned) in every respect, and not to con- 
fine this caution and benevolence to our friends, 
but to extend them even to our enemies. More 
particularly, we j^romise inviolably to i)ractice 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 223 

all relative duties, both to superiors, inferiors 
and equals ; to show them all that honor, love, 
condescension and beneficence, which shall be 
due from us. "We promise never to revenge any 
injury we may suppose ourselves to have receiv- 
ed of our neighbors. We will never promote or 
countenance any obscenity or impurity by word 
or deed. 

AA'e will never wrong our neighbors' world- 
ly estate, but endeavor to advance it, conscien- 
tiously observing the rules of justness and hon- 
esty ; and as far as we shall be able, make full 
reparation of any injuries which we may have 
done. Moreover, we solemly promise, that we 
will never allow ourselves m the practice of 
calumny or slander, but will strictly regard such 
Christian rules as these. (Titus 3, 2,) speak 
evil of no man. (James 4, 11,) Speak not evil 
one of another. (2 Cor. 12, 20,) lest^ there be 
stripes, backbitings, whisperings ; and will ex- 
ercise that charity which covereth the multitude 
of faults, and thinketh no evil. And in all our 
affairs whatever, w^e will religiously avoid (as 
well as prudently 'discourage,) indiscreet anger, 
contention, and a selfish and party spirit: 

And, in sum, we solemnly engage that we 
w^ill invariably seek the public weal, and gov- 
ern ourselves by the peaceful, charitable, and 



224 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTEH. 

generous principles of our holy religion, fixed- 
ly adhering to that most reasonable precept of 
our Blessed Lord and Pattern, " Whatsoever 
ye would that men should do to you do ye even 
the same unto them. " 

And now sensible of our own corruption and 
weakness, and of the power and vigilance of 
our spiritual enemies, we implore and trust in 
the grace of God, through Jesus Christ, to pre- 
serve us from dissimulation and instability, with 
reference to these our sacred vows and resolu- 
tions ; to which, in the presence and fear of our 
all-seeing Judge, we subscribe our names. 



John Rogers, 
Benj.Whitconib, 
Jona. White, 
Oliver Carter, 



Ebenezer Polly, 
Thomas Wilder, 
Ephraim Stone, 
Thomas White, 



Thos. Houghton, 
Nathaniel Carter, 
Simon Butler, 
Gardner Wilder. 



James Boutell,' 
Jos. Wheelock, 
David Johnson, 
Phillip Sweetser, 



Those who adhered to Mr Kogers were, to the 
last, content with this Covenant. 

On the fourth day of February 1760, nearly 
three years before the Ordination of Mr Gard- 
ner, those members of the Church who were 
opposed to Mr. Rogers adopted the following : 

We, whose names are hereafter subscribed, 
inhabitants of the tov/n of Xeominster, and oth- 
ers in New England, having been incorporated 
into a cliurch state, do now before God, angels, 
and men, solemnly renew our covenant with 
the Lord, confessing and bewailing our sins, 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 225 

and loathing ourselves for our apostacy from 
God in Adam, with humble dependence upon 
the gracious assistance of God to make us 
steadfast in his covenant, and to establish us to- 
day for a people unto himself and our seed 
with us, and that shall come after us ; that he 
may be unto us a God as he promised unto our 
flithcrs, to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob, 
whose children we profess to be, and heirs with 
them according to the promise, by faith in Je- 
sus Christ, — we do give up ourselves unto the 
Lord and unto each other by the will of God 
to be built up a spiritual house, and to offer up 
spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God by Jesus 
Christ ; and therefore, 

1. We do avouch the Lord to be our God, 
whose name alone is Jehovah, Father, Son and 
Holy Spirit, three persons in one God, who is 
over all blessed forever, to fear him and cleave 
to him in love, and serve him in truth with all 
our hearts. 

2. We do, through the help of the Holy 
Spirit, (by coA'enant) choose all the written 
word of God, to be our only rule for faith and 
manners, so building upon the foundation of 
the apostles and prophets, not preferring one 
part of the word by partiality to another ; but 
esteeming every word of God to be pure and 



226 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

useful for reproof, correction and iustructioii in 
righteousness, and as thoroughly furnishing us 
to all good works, waiting for the teaching of 
the Spirit of truth to lead into all truth, in a 
diligent comparing scripture with scripture, un- 
til the light thereof shine more and more unto 
the perfect day — and as some of the truths of 
God are opposed in this day of apostacy ; — we 
will therefore stand together in the defence of 
these truths, resisting steadfostly by his word 
and spirit, all doctrines that tend to undermine 
the true Deity or Godhead of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, or his dignity as King and Prophet and 
Priest of his church ; or that tend to advance 
man's innocency by nature, his own merits or 
righteousness, and to eclipse the sovereignty 
and efficacy of divine grace in election, '\'ocation 
and justification, the whole of salvation both 
begun and perfected only of grace, without any 
regard had to good foreseen in man or willed 
by him, — as for human composures, we bless 
God for the great grace and eminent gifts he 
hath given to some men and shall use the writ- 
ings of such as are agreeable to the word of 
God, as helps for our Instruction, quickening, 
comforting and establishing in grace, at the 
same time searching the scriptures whether 
what they say be agreeable to them, so our 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 227 

faith may not stand in the wisdom of man but 
in the power of God. 

3. We covenant throngh the help of tlie Ho- 
ly Spirit to improve all the ordinances which 
Christ hath instituted in his church, both gen- 
eral and special, in their appointed seasons ; as 
Xn'ayers, praises, hearing God's word, and to 
hold communion with each other, in the use of 
both the seals of the covenant, viz : Baptism 
and the Lord's Supper : 

4. We promise peaceably to submit to the 
discipline appointed by Christ in his church ; 
as fellowship, the key for opening the doors of 
the church, to receive in the righteous that 
keep the truth ; censure, the key for shutting 
the door of the church ; public admonition, 
when the offence is public, withdrawing from 
those that walk disorderly, that cause divisions 
and offences, or forsake church assemblies ; and 
excommunicating such as are obstinate here- 
tics, or persist in open scandalous sins ; and 
that there may be the less occasion for public 
censures and excisions, we promise to warn 
every brother or sister that offends ; not divulg- 
ing in private offences irregularly, but heed- 
fully follow^ing the several precepts laid down 
for church dealing in Matthew 18: 15, 16 17, 
willmgly forgiving all that maiiifest unto the 



2'28 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTEH. 

judgement of charity that they truly repent of 
their miscarriage. 

'5. We covenant by the help of the Holy 
Spirit, faithfully to discharge our several rela- 
tive duties : as — 

1. To submit to our pastor in waiting ui> 
on his ministry, esteeming him very highly in 
love for his work's sake, and as a steward of 
the mysteries of God to us, obeying him that 
hath the rule over us, and counting him wor- 
thy of double honor while ruling well. 

2. To discharge our duty to our families, 
especially to our infant seed, challenging their 
right to a relation unto God in his church, and 
to baptism the seal thereof, and therefore to 
train them up in the nurture and admonition 
of the Lord, — in special, by the use of such 
catechisms as are agreeable to the doctrine of 
grace, especially the Westminster catechism, 
and callmg upon them as they grow up, to 
avouch the Lord to be their God, and to take 
on themselves the bond of the covenant, that 
so the true religion may be maintained in our 
families wdiilst we live, and that when we are 
dead they may stand up in our stead and be 
accounted to the Lord for a generation. 

3. To discharge our duties to each other, in 
particular to Tove one another:— to bear each 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 229 

other's burthens, and in honor esteeming each 
other better than ourselves ; to watch over eacli 
other, praying for, and strengtliening and com- 
forting one another. 

4. To -esteem all men, and to love the broth- 
erhood and fear God, and to do good to all as 
we have opportunity, especially to those who 
are of the household of faith. Thus we cove- 
nant and promise, and the God of jDcace that 
brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus 
Christ, that great shepherd of the sheep, 
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 
make us perfect in every good work to do his 
will, working in us that which is well pleasing 
in his sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be 
glory forever and ever. Amen. 

Gardner Wilder, Samuel Hale, 

£)avid Johnson, Joseph Beaman, 

Oliver Carter, Nathan Bennett, 

Thomas Stearns, Aaron Brown, 

Caleb Sawyer, Jotham Bennett, 

Israel Nichols, Oliver Hoar, 

Oliver Hale, James Boutell, 

Heuben Gates, | David Robbins, 

As has already been observed, the Covenant 
oi 1760 was so objectionable, that Only two of 
the twenty-seven who united themselves with 
the cliurch during the second ten years of Mr^ 
Gardner's ministry, subscribed their names to 
it ; and by common consent it was laid aside j 
and the short and comprehensive confession 
here re-inserted, was used in its stead. 
20 



William Bouteil, 
Joshua Osgood, 
Kendall BoutelL 
Stephen Buss, 
Edward Phelps, 
J'lseph Wilder, 
John Fletcher. 



230 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

" You openly and publicly profess your be- 
lief that there is one God who is a being of in- 
finite and eternal perfections. That the scrip- 
tures of the old and new testament are the 
word of God, and a i^)erfect rule of faith and 
manners. You solemnly renew the dedication 
of yourself, or selves, to God, the Father, Son 
and Holy Spirit. You own God as your God 
and Father; Jesus Christ as your Redeemer, 
and the Holy Ghost as your Sanctifier to lead 
you to the truth as it is in Jesus Christ, and to 
build you up in holiness and comfort. Finally, 
you promise to walk orderly in the communion 
of this church so long as your opportunities to 
be hereby edified shall be continued to you. 

You promise this." 

And there was another called the baptismal 
or half-way Covenant, by the owning of which 
parents had a right to present their children in 
baptism without joining the church. By ac- 
cident or otherwise, that Covenant is lost or 
mislaid, and therefore cannot be inserted here. 
But I well recollect that there was in it one 
clause by which those who assented to it did 
promise that they would not rest satisfied until 
they should come to full communion. And 
June 29, 1795, the church voted, " That those 
who have owned the Covenant (Baptismal) and 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 231 

desire to come iiito full communion, shall ex- 
press their desire to the Pastor, who shall make 
public mention of it,, and if no objection be 
made in a fortnight after, they shall have a 
right to full communion." 

On the second day of November, 1815, all 
the foregoing Covenants were annulled, and the 
following was adopted : 

Art. 1. "We unreservedly give up ourselves 
to Almighty God, choosing him for our friend 
and everlasting portion, and promising, with 
the assistance of his grace, to glorify him witli 
our bodies and with our spirits, which are his. 

2. We heartily embrace the Lord Jesus 
Christ in all his offices, as our only Saviour, and 
the Holy Ghost as our Sanctifier and Teacher. 

3. We receive the Scriptures of the Old 
and New Testament as the Word of God, and 
promise to make them the only rule of our re- 
ligious faith and practice. 

4. We promise with seriousness and prayer- 
fulness, to wait on God, diligently in all his 

, holy ordinances, both common and special. 

5. We engage to walk orderly and charita- 
bly with each other, to use our endeavors for 
the Church's purity, edification and prosperity ; 
to submit ourselves to its watch and discipline ; 
and in case of offences, to conform to the rule 



232 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



pointed out by our Saviour in Matthew, 18 : 
15, 16, 17. 

6. We promise to bring up our children in 
the nurture and admonition of the Lord, to see 
that all under our care are instructed in the 
things pertaining to the kingdom of God, to 
maintain the worship of God in our families, 
and to set before our households examples of 
virtue and godliness. All this we do, looking 
to the blood of the everlasting covenant for the 
pardon of our sins, and. praying that the glori- 
ous Lord who is the great Shepherd, would 
prepare and strengthen us for every good word 
and work, and receive us at las-t to everla&tinor 



mansions. 

"William Basconi, 
David Wilder, 
Benjamin Perkins, 
James Boutelle, 
William Barrage, Jr. 
John Boutelle, 
Joseph Wilder, 
Ephraim Lincoln, 



Ephraim Carter, 
Caleb Wo(jd, 
Samrtel flalc, 
Silas Allen, 
Abijah Butler, 
David Wilder, Jr., 
Josiah Carter, 
James Joslin, 



James Carter, 
Joseph Wilder, Jr., 
Elisha Coolidge, 
Isaac Bigelow, 
feumuel Crocker, 
Simeon Butler, 
Ephraim Carter, Jr. 
Caleb Leland. 



The latest Covenant of the church connected 
with the " First Congregational Society," in 
this town, is the following, which, by an unajii- 
imous vote of that body, was adopted August 
12, 1832." Impressed, as you trust, with a due 
sense of Christian obligation, you surrender 
yourself in Covenant, unto God, your HeaA^enly 
Father, and engage to use your endeavors to, 
'^pnor Him by a life of piety and virtue. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 233 

You receive Jesus, the Christ, the Savior, as 
revealed to your mind m the Sacred Scriptures ; 
believe it to be your duty to profess his re- 
ligion, and make the precepts of his gospel the 
rule of your life and conversation. You re- 
ceive the Sacred Scriptures, as containing the 
revealed will of God, and engage to make 
them the rule of your religious faith and prac- 
tice. You engage to walk orderly, charitably, 
and in communion with this church ; to sub- 
mit yourself to its regular and scriptural disci- 
pline, and to contribute, as far as in you lies, 
to its peace, prosperity and good order. 

This, you do, lookmg unto God, that he 
would dispose you to walk worthy of your 
Christian vocation, and adorn the religion you 
now profess, by purity of life and conversation." 
Here the Pastor says, " Do you so solemnly 
covenant and promise V and the individual or 
i^di^iduals receiving the covenant assenting—^ 
He then says, " I then, in the name of this 
church, pronounce you a member with us, in 
full communion, and entitled to the same privi- 
leges with ourselves, and engage to discharge 
towards you the duties of Christian love and 
fellowship ; expecting and requiring the same 
friendly offices from you, as members of the 
same body of which Christ is the Head ; ear- 



I^d^^ HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER-. 

nestly desiring that you and we may grow in 
grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord, and 
finally be admitted members of the church af 
the first-born, whose names are written in Heav- 
en. Amen." 

FORM OF ADMISSION TO THE E¥Ai\fiELICAL CDDRCn. 
ADDRESS. 

Beloved Friends: — You have now present'- 
ed yourselves to make a public profession of 
your religious faith, and to enter into solemn 
covenant with God and his people. We trust 
you have well considered the nature of this 
transaction, the most solemn and momentous 
in which you can ever engage, and that you are 
prepared by di\'ine grace to consecrate your- 
selves to God, a living sawifice, holy and ac- 
ceptable through Jesus Christ. Having exam- 
ined the Articles of Faith and Covenant, adop- 
ted by this Church, you will now give your as- 
sent ta the same before these witnesses. 

CONFESSION OF FAITH. 

1. You believe there is one living and true 
God, who is revealed in the Scriptures as the 
Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost ; and that 
these three are one, and in all divine perfee-«. 
tioHS equal. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 235 

2. You believe that the Scriptures of the Old 
and New Testament ^Yerc given by the inspira^ 
tion of God, and are the only perfect rule of 
Christian faith and practice. 

3. You believe that God made all things for 
himself; that he governs them according to his 
own will, and that his knowledge and pui'poses 
extend to all events, both great and small. 

4. You believe that our first parents were 
created holy ; that they fell from a state of ho- 
liness by transgressing the divine command, 
and that, m consequence of their apostacy, all 
their descendants are without holiness and ali- 
enated from God until their hearts are renewed 
by the Ploly Spirit. 

5. You believe that mankind, previous to 
regeneration, are proper subjects of moral gov- 
ernment, accountable to God for their actions, 
justly required to love him supremely, and for 
their disobedience justly exposed to his curse 
and wrath forever. 

G. You believe that Christ, being God man- 
ifest m the flesh, by his sufferings and death 
made an adequate atonement in sin, on account 
of which pardon is offered to all ; that repen- 
tance and faith in him, evinced by a holy life, 
are the indispensable conditions of salvation :. 
and that sinners are alone to blame for refusing 
^o comply with them. 



236 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

7. You believe that all who truly repent and 
trust in Christ Avill, through covenanted grace, 
persevere in holiness to the end of life. 

8. You believe that there will be a resurrec- 
tion of the bodies both of the just and the un- 
just ; and a day of judgement when all must 
give account to Christ of all the deeds done in 
the body ; when the imjDenitent will go away 
into punishment, and the righteous into life, 
both of wliich v/ill be without end. 

9. You believe that the Lord Jesus Christ 
has a \isible church in the world ; that the 
terms of membership are a credible profession 
of faith in Christ, and of that holiness which is 
wrought by the renewing grace of God ; and 
that none but members of the visible church in 
regular standmg have a right to partake of the 
Lord's Supper ; and that only they and their 
household can be admitted to the ordinance of 
Baptism. 

10. You believe that the first day of the 
week is the Christian Sabbath, and to be sanc- 
tified on the authority of the fourth command- 
ment ; that public religious worship on this 
day, and family and secret worship on all the 
days of the week, and the habitual practice of 
righteousness, temperance, sobriety and truth, 
are important Christian duties. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 237 

All these things you profess and heartily be- 
lieve. 

(Here Baptism is to be administered.) 

You will now enter into solemn covenant 
with God and with this Church. 

COVENANT. 

In the presence of Gkxl and this assembly, 
you now solemnly covenant to take the great 
Jehovah, Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, to be 
your God, the object of your supreme affection, 
and your portion forever. 

You cordially and thankfully accept of the 
Lord Jesus Christ as your only Savior, engag- 
ing to cleave to him as your highest good, and 
in reliance on his grace, to walk blamelessly in 
all his commandments and ordinances, to tlie 
end of life. 

You sincerely acknowledge the Holy Spirit 
as your Sanctifier, Comforter, and Guide ; and 
you promise evermore to seek and cherish those 
holy influences by which, through the truth, he 
sanctifies believers, and makes them meet for 
the inheritance of the saints in light. 

You will henceforth consider yourselves as 
the Lord's, and solemnly engage to serve him 
with all that you have and are. 

And while you continue among us, you prom- • 



238 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

ise to \yalk in communion Avitli this Church, 
seeking its prosperity, and submitting to its dis- 
cipline, ever demeaning yourselves before God 
and man, as becometh saints, working out your 
own sah-ation with fear and trembling, conmiit- 
ting yourselves and all your concerns to Him 
who is al^le to keep you from falling, and to 
present you faultless before the presence of his 
glory with exceeding joy. 

This in the presence of God and his people, 
you sincerely ]3romise. AYe then, the members 
of this Church, affectionately receive yoii to our 
communion, and in the name of Christ, declare 
you entitled to all its privileges. We welcome 
you to tliis fellowship with us in the blessings 
of the Gospel ; and engage to watch over you 
with Christian affection and tenderness, and to 
seek your edification, as long as you shall con- 
tinue among us. 

And now, beloved in the Lord, let it be im- 
pressed on your minds, that you have entered 
into solemn engagements from which you can 
never be released. 

Wherever you go, and liowever you act, these 
vows will be upon you. They will follow you 
to your dying hour ; they will follow you to the 
bar of God ; tlicy will abide iipon you to eter- 
nity. You can never tindo what vou have now 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 239 

tloiio. You stand unalterably pledged to be the 
Lord's, and he will hold you to your promise. 

Henceforth the eyes of tlie world will be up- 
on you ; and as you demean yourselves, so re- 
ligion will be honored or disgraced. If you 
walk worthy of your profession, you will be to 
us a source of credit and consolation ; but if 
otherwise, an occasion of grief and reproach. — 
But beloved, we are persuaded better things of 
you ; and things which accompany sal^^ation, 
though we thus speak. 

May the Lord support and guide both you 
and us tlirough life, and after this warfare is 
accomplished, receive us, through the atoning 
sacrifice of the crucified Redeemer, to that bles- 
sed world, where our love and joy shall be for- 
ever perfect. Amen. 

The Methodists have no covenant other than 
the following " Articles of Religion." 

Article 1. There is but one living and true 
God, everlasting, without body or parts, of infi- 
nite power, wisdom and goodness ; the maker 
and preserver of all things, visible and invisi- 
ble- And in unity of this Godhead there are 
three persons of one substance, power and eter- 
nity, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. 

Art. 2. The Son, who is the word of the 
Father, the very and eternal God, of one sub- 



1^40 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

stance with the Father, took man's nature in 
the womb of the blessed Virgin ; so that two 
whole and j)erfect natures, that is to say, the 
Godhead and manhood, were joined together in 
one person, never to be divided, whereof is one 
Christ, very God and very man, who truly suf- 
fered, was crucified, dead and buried, to recon- 
cile his Father to us, and to be a sacrifice, not 
only for original guilt, but also for all actual 
sins of men. 

Art. 3. Christ did truly rise hgain from the 
dead, and took again his body, with all things 
appertaining to the perfection of man's nature, 
wherewith he ascended into heaven, and there 
sitteth until he return to judge all men at the 
last day. 

Art. 4. The Holy Ghost, proceeding from 
the Father and the Son, is of one substance, 
majesty and glory, with the Father and the Son, 
very and eternal God. 

Art. 5. The Holy Scriptures contain all 
things necessary to salvation ; so that whatev- 
er is not read therein, nor may be proved there- 
by, is not to be required of any man, that it 
should be believed as an article of faith, or be 
thought requisite or necessary to salvation. 

In the name of th^^ Holy Scriptures, we do 
understand those canonical books of the Old 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 24:1 

and Xew Testament of whose anthority was nev- 
er any doubt in the church, (Lamentations ex- 
cepted.) All the books of the New Testament, 
as they are commonly received, we do receive 
and account canonical. 

Art. 6. The Old Testament is not contrary 
to the New, for both in the Old and New Tes- 
tament, everlasting life is oifcred to mankind by 
Christ, who is the only ^l^ediator between God 
and man, being both God and man. Wherefore 
they are not to be heard, who feign that the old 
fathers did look only for transitory promises. 
Although the law given, from God by Moses, as 
touching ceremonies and rights, doth not bind 
Christians, nor ought the civil precepts there- 
of of necessity be recciA'ed in any commonwealth, 
yet, notwithstanding no Christian whatsoever is 
free from the obedience of the commandments 
which are called moral. 

Art. 7. Original sin standeth not in the 
following of Adam, (as the Palagians do vainly 
talk,) but it is the corruption of the nature of 
every man, that naturally is engendered of the 
offspring of Adam, whereby man is very far gone 
from original righteousness, and of his own na- 
ture inclined to evil, and that continually. 

Art. 8. The condition of man after the fall 
of Adam, is such that he cannot turn and pre- 
21 



242 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

pare himself, by his own natural strength and 
woiks, to faith, and calling upon God ; where- 
fore we have no poAver to do good works, pleas- 
ant and acceptable to God, without the grace 
of God by Christ preventing us, that we may 
have a good will, and working with us, when 
we have that good M'ill. 

Art. 9. We are accounted righteous before 
God, only for the merit of our Lord and Saviour 
Jesus Christ by faith, and not for our own works 
or deservings : — wherefore that we are justified 
by faith only, is a most wholesome doctrine, and 
very full of comfort. 

Art. 10. Although good works, which are 
the fruits of faith, and follow after justification, 
cannot put away our sins, and enchire the se- 
verity of God's judgments; yet are they pleasing 
and acceptable to God in Christ, and spring 
out of a true and lively faith, inasmuch that by 
them a lively faith may be as evidently known, 
as a tree is discerned by its fruit. 

Art." 11. Voluntary works, besides over 
and above God's commandments, which arc 
called works of supererogation, cannot be taught 
without arrogancy and impiety. For by them 
men do declare that they do not only render un- 
to God as much as they are bound to do, but 
that they do more for his sake than of bounden 



HISTORY OF IvEOMINSTER. 243 

duty is required : whereas Christ saith plainly, 
when ye have done all that is commanded you, 
say, we are unprofitable servants. 

Art. 12. Not every sin willingly committed 
after justification, is the sin against the Holy 
Ghost, and luipardonable, wherefore the grant 
of repentance is not to be denied to such as 
fall into sin after justification : after we have 
received the Holy Ghost, we may depart from 
grace given, and fall into sin, and by the grace 
of God, rise again and amend our lives. And 
therefore they are to be condemned who say 
they can no more sin as long as they live here, 
or deny the place of forgiveness to such as tru- 
ly repent. 

Art. 13. The visible Church of Christ is a 
congregation of faitliful men, in which the pure 
word of God is preached, and the sacraments 
duly administered according to Christ's ordi- 
nance in all those things that of necessity arc 
requisite to the same. 

Art. 14. The Ilomish doctrine concerning 
purgatory, pardon, worshipping, and adoration, 
as well of images as of relics, and also invoca- 
tion of saints, is a fond thing, vainly invented, 
and grounded upon no warrant of Scripture, 
-but repugnant to the word of God. 

Art. 15. It is a thing plainly repugnant to 



244: HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

the word of God, and the custom of the prim- 
itive church, to have public prayer in the 
church, or to minister the sacraments, in a 
tongue not understood by the people. 

Art. 16. Sacraments ordained of Christ, are 
not only badges or tokens of Christian men's 
profession, but rather they are certain signs of 
grace, and God's good will towards us, by the 
which he doth work invisibly in us, and doth 
not only quicken, but also strengthen and con- 
iirm our faith in him. There are two sacra- 
ments ordained of Christ our Lord in the Gos- 
pel ; that is to say, Baptism and the Supper of 
the Lord. 

Those five commonly called sacraments ; that 
is to say, Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Mat- 
rimony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be 
counted as sacraments of the Gospel, being 
such as have partly grown out of the corrupt 
following of the apostles : and partly are states 
of life allowed in the Scriptures, but yet have 
not the like nature of Baptism and the Lord's 
Supper, because they have not any visible sign, 
or ceremony ordained of God. The sacraments 
were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon, 
or to be carried about ; but that we should 
duly use them. And in such only as worthily 
receive the same, they have a wholesome effect 



HISTORY OF leo:minster. 245 

or operation ; but tjiey that receive them un- 
worthily, purchase to themselves condemnation,* 
as St. Paul saith, 1 Cor. 11.29. 

Art. 1 7. Baptism is not only a sign of pro- 
fession, and mark of difference, whereby Chris- 
tians are distinguished from others that are not 
baptized; but it is also a sign of regeneration, 
or the new birth. The baptism of young cliild- 
ren is to be retained in the churcli. 

Art. 18. The Supper of the Lord is not 
only a sign that Christians ought to liavc 
among themselves one to another, but rather 
is a sacrament of our redemption by Christ'^' 
death: inasmuch, that to such as rightly, worth- 
ily, and with faith receive the same, the bread 
which we break is a partaking of the body of 
Christ; and likewise the cup of blessing is a 
partaking of the blooc\ of Christ. Transub- 
stantiation, or the change of the substance of 
bread and wine in the Supper of our Lord, can 
not be proved by Holy Writ, but is repugnant 
to the plain words of Scripture, overthrowetli 
the nature of a sacrament, and hath given oc- 
casion to many superstitions. The body of 
Christ is given, taken, and eaten in the Supper, 
only after a heavenly and Scriptural manner. 
And the means whereby the body of Christ is 
received and eaten in the Supper, is faith. The 



246 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

sacrament of the LoixVs Supper was not by 
Christ's cndowance reserved, carried about, lifted 
up, or worshipped. ' 

Art. 19. The cup of the Lord is not to be 
denied to the lazy people : for both the parts 
of the Lord's Supper, by Christ's ordinance 
and commandment, ought to be administered 
to all Christians alike. 

Art. 20. The offering of Christ once made, 
is that perfect redemption, propitiation, and 
satisfaction for all the sins of the whole world, 
both original and actual ; and there is none 
other satisfaction for sin but that alone. Where- 
fore the sacrifice of masses, in the which it is 
commonly said, that the priest doth offer Christ 
for the quick and the dead, to have remission 
of pain or guilt, is a blasphemous fable, and 
dangerous deceit. 

Art. 2L The ministers of Christ are not 
commanded by God's law either to yoav the es- 
tate of single life, or to abstain from marriage ; 
therefore it is lawful for them, as for all other 
Christians, to marry at their own discretion, as 
they shall judge the same to serve but to god- 
liness. 

Art. 22. It is not necessary that rites and 
ceremonies should in all places be the same, or 
exactly alike : for they have been always dif- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 2^7 

ferent, and may be changed according to the 
diversities of countries, times, and men's man- 
ners, so that nothing be ordained against God's 
word. — ^^Vhosoever, through his private judge- 
ment, willingly and purposely doth openly 
break the rites and ceremonies of the church, 
to which he belongs, which are not repugnant 
to the word of God, and are ordained and ap- 
proved by common authority, ought to be re- 
buked openly, that others may fear to do the 
like, as one that ofFendeth against the conmion 
order of the church, and woundcth the con- 
sciences of weak brethren. 

Every particular church may ordain, change, 
or abolish rites and ceremonies, so that all 
things may be done to edification. 

Art. 23. The president, the congress, the 
general assemblies, the governors and the coun- 
cils of state, as the delegates of the lycoplc, are 
the rulers of the United States of America, ac- 
cording to the division of power made to them 
by the constitution of the United States, and 
by the constitutions of their respective States. 
And the said States are a sovereign and inde- 
pendent nation, and ought liot to be subject to 
any foreign jurisdiction. 

Art. 24. The riches and iroods of Christians 
are not common, as touching the right, title, 



248 IIISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

and possession of the same, as some do falsely 
boast. Notwithstanding, every man ought, of 
such things as he possesseth, liberally to give 
alms to the poor, according to his ability. 

Art. 25. As we confess that vain and rash 
swearing is forbidden Christian men by our 
Lord Jesus Christ, and James his apostle, so 
we judge that the Christian religion doth not 
prohibit, but that a man may swear when the 
magistrate requireth, in a cause of faith and 
charity, so it be done according to the prophet's 
teaching, in justice, judgement and truth. 

STANDING RESOLUTIONS OF THE CHURCH. 

A summary declaration of the faith and 
practice of tlie Baptist Church in Leominster. 

Resolved^ That it shall be the duty of our 
pastor or other officer of the church to visit or 
correspond with any member who, residing in 
the vicinity of the church, shall neglect for two 
months in succession to attend the church con- 
ference, or to provide some satisfactory commun- 
ication to the church. 

Resolved^ That we recommend to the mem- 
bers of this church wdio remove to the vicinity 
of other churches of the same denomination, to 
unite with the same without delay. 

In view of the evils arising from the use of 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 249 

intoxicating liquor to the church of Christ and 
to the salvation of souls, 

Hesolved, That we will individually abstain 
from the use of such liquors as a drink. 

As we consider slavery, in whatever form it 
exists, to be contrary to the eternal principles 
and ju^ice, and the spirit and principles of 
Christianity, therefore, 

Resolved^ That we will not withhold our tes- 
timony against this sin and consequently against 
those engaged in it, and that we will not hold 
in church fellowship or invite to our commun- 
ion any person who shall buy, sell or willingly 
hold as property, any man, woman or child, or 
accept any such as our pastor or spiritual guide. 

Summary Declaration. "NMiile we acknowl- 
edge no creed but the Bible, we deem it expe- 
dient to make a declaration to the world of what 
we believe the Bible teaches in respect to some 
important doctrines. "We feel ourselves called 
upon to do this from the fact that most denom- 
mations, however diiferent their faith, profess to 
found it upon the same word of God. 

1. AVe believe that the Holy Scriptures are 
the word of God, and constitute our only un- 
erring rule of faith and practice. 

2. That there is but one living and true God, 
and that he has manifested himself to his peo- 



250 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

pie in the character of Father, Son, and Holy 
Ghost, who are equal in their nature, power and 
glory. 

3. That by sin mankind lost the divine im- 
age, became wholly debased and defiled in all 
the affections of the soul, and consequently in- 
capable of enjoying God truly until renewed 
by grace. 

4. That the only way of salvation from this 
state is through the atonement which was 
wrought out for us by Jesus Christ, who veiled 
his Divinity in humanit}', and made satisfaction 
for man to God by his perfect obedience, suffer- 
ings, death and resurrection. 

5. That though there is an infinite fullness 
in the atonement^ sufficient for all mankind, yet 
none are justified or entitled to any of its spir- 
itual benefits until united' to Christ by a living 
faitli which purifies the heart and overcomes 
the world. 

6. AVe believe that God according to his 
foreknowledge did elect to eternal salvation all 
who would repent and believe. 

7. That all who are renewed' by the Holy 
Ghost will be kept by the power af God through 
faith unto salvation. 

8. That one day in seven should be kept as 
a day of devotion and religious Avorship. That 



History of Leominster. 251 

the practice of the early disciples favored tlic 
observance of the first day of the week as this 
sabbath. ^ 

9. That the ordinances of the church arc 
two — Baptism and the Lord's Supper. 

Baptism is pre-requisite to communion, that 
it is properly administered only to candidates 
on profession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, 
and that immersion is the only gospel mode. 

10. That the bodies of the righteous and 
the wicked will be raised from the dead at tlie 
last day. 

IL That there will be subsequent to the 
resurrection a general Judgement. The design 
of this is to make a full and comx^lcte disclosure 
of the principles and proceedings of God's gov- 
ernment, and to exhibit the true character of 
men to themselves and to others. 

12. That the wicked will be doomed to 
everlasting destruction from the presence of the 
Lord, while the righteous will be received into 
life eternal. 

COVENANT. 

As we trust we have been redeemed from the 
power and dominion of sin and submitted our- 
selves to the Lord Jesus Christ, so we do now 
covenant with each other that we will walk to- 



552 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

getlier in love as brethren and sisters in tlie 
Lord. That we will with care and love, watch 
over one another, faithfully entreat and admon- 
ish one another, as occasion may require. That 
we will not forsake the assembling of ourselves 
together on the Sabbath, at the covenant meet- 
ings of the church. That we Avill strive to- 
gether to the utmost of our ability, to support 
a faithful, evangelical ministry at home and 
ah road. 

That we will not neglect the great duty of 
secret prayer for ourselves and others, and 
while we have the lead of families, we will call 
them together to read God's word, converse 
and pray. 

That Ave will endeavor to bring up such as 
may at any time come under our care, " in the 
nurture and admonition of the Lord," and by a 
pure and lovely example endeavor to win our 
kindred and acquaintances to the Savior, to 
holiness, and eternal, life. We do further en- 
gage that while we are with the world we will 
be guarded in our conversation, circumspect in 
our lives, and by a holy life and godly conversa- 
tion, we will endeavor to recommend the re- 
ligion we profess to those around us. That we 
will regard and carefully fulfil all our promises, 
and in wdiatever business the Lord calls us to 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 253 

engage, these with perfect honesty and becom- 
ing dihgcnce, we will endeavor to glorify God. 
We will also carefully refrain from spending our 
time idly at taverns, in parties of ivorldly pleas- 
ure, vain amiisements^ or in trfling company ; 
but our leisure hours we will redeem from such 
resorts, and spend them for our own advance- 
ment in holy life, by prayer^ meditation and 
suitable reading ; or for the good of the poor, 
the sick, the afflicted or the ignorant. And as 
we have been raised from the emblematic grave, 
we will endeavor in all things to lead a new and 
holy life. Doing with our might what we can 
to bring back a fallen world to God and holi- 
ness. 

This do we severally proniise to do while the 
Lord shall strengthen and permit, and to him 
be all the glory. 

And when heart and flesh shall fail, may we 
be found watching for the coming of the Son of 
^lan, and receive a hearty welcome to the mar- 
riage supper of the J^amb. 

The Apostles' Creed, composed in the first 
ages of Christianity. " I believe in God, the 
Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth ; 
and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord ; 
who was conceived by the Holy Ghost ; born of 
22 



254: HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

the virgin Maiy ; suffered under Pontius Pilate; 
was crucified, died and buried ; the third day 
he arose again from the dead ; he ascended in- 
to heaven ; and sitteth at the right hand of God, 
the Father Almiglity ; from thence jie shall come 
to judge the living and the dead. I believe in 
the Holy Ghost ; the forgivness of sins ; the res- 
urrection of the body ; and the life everlasting. 
Amen. 

The Creed of Saint Athanasius. Whoso- 
ever will be saved, before all things it is neces-' 
sary, that he hold the Catholic Faith. Which 
Faith, except every one do keep Avhole and un- 
defiled, without doubt he shall perish everlast- 
ingly. And the Ciitholic Faith is this : That 
we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in 
unity ; neither confounding the persons, nor 
dividing the substance, for there is one person 
of the Father, another of the Son, and another 
of the Holy Ghost. But the Godhead of the 
Father, of the Son and of the Holy Ghost is all 
one, the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal. 
Such as the Father is, such is the son, and such 
is the Holy Ghost. The Father uncreate, the 
Son uncreate, and the Holy Ghost uncreate. 

The Father incomprehensible, the Son incom- 
prehensible, the Holy Ghost incomprehensible. 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 



255 



The Father eternal, the Son eternal, the Ho- 
ly Ghost eternal. And yet they are not three- 
eternals, but one eternal, as also there are not 
three incomprehensibles, nor three uncreated, 
but one uncreated, and one mcomprehcnsible. 
So likewise the Father is Almighty, the Son al- 
mighty, the Holy Ghost Almighty, and yet there 
are not three Almighties, but one Almighty. 
So the. Father is God, the Son is God, and the 
Holy Ghost is God, and yet they are not three 
Gods, but one God. So likewise the Father is 
Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is 
Lord, and yet not three Lords, but one Lord ; 
For like as we are compelled by Christian ver- 
ity ; to acknowledge every person by himself to 
be God and Lord. So are we forbidden by the 
Catholic Religion, to say, There be three Gods 
or three Lords. The Father is made of none'; 
neither created nor begotten. The Son is of the 
Father alone ; not made, nor created, but begot- 
ten. The Holy Ghost is of the Father, and of 
the Son ; neither made, nor created, nor begot- 
ten, but proceeding. 

So there is one Father, not three Fathers ; 
one Son, not three Sons ; one Holy Ghost, not 
three Holy Ghosts. And in this Trinity none 
is afore, or after other; none is greater or less 
than another. But the whole three Persons 



256 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

are co-eternal together : and co-equal. So that 
in all things as is aforesaid, tlie Unity in Trin- 
ity, and the Trinity in Unity, is to be worship- 
ped. He therefore that will be saved, must 
thus think of the Trinity. Furthermore, it is 
necessary to everlasting salvation, that he also 
believe rightly the Incarnation of our Lord Je- 
sus Christ. For the right Faith is, that we be- 
lieve and confess, that our Lord Jesus Christ, 
the Son of God, is God and Man. God, of the 
Substance of the Father, begotten before the 
worlds : and Man, of the Substance of his 
mother, born in the world ; perfect God, and 
perfect Man ; of a reasonable soul, and human 
iicsh, subsisting ; equal to the Father, as touch- 
ing his Godhead; and inferior to the Father, 
as touching his Manhood. AVho, although he 
be God and Man ; yet he is not two, but one 
Christ. One, not by conversion of the God- 
head into flesh.; but by taking the ^Manhood in- 
to God ; One altogether ; not by confusion of 
Substance ; but by unity of Person. For as 
the reasonable soul and flesh is one Man ; so 
God and Man is one Christ ; who suftered for 
our salvation ; descended into hell, rose again 
the third day from the dead. He ascended in- 
to heaven, he sitteth on the right hand of the 
Father, God 4^1mighty ; from whence he shall 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 257 

come to judge the quick and the dead. At 
Avliose coming all men shall rise again with their 
bodies ; and shall give account for their own 
works. And they that have done good,_ shall 
go into life everlasting ; and they that have 
done evil into everlasting fire. This is the Cath- 
olic Faith ; which except a man believe faith- 
fully, he cannot be saved. Glory be to the Fa- 
ther, Sec. As it w'as in the beginning, &:c. 

I have thus collected together all the " Cove- 
nants," "Confessions of Faith," "Articles of 
Keligion, " and " Summary Declarations, " of 
all the Churches in this town, so far as I have 
been able to obtain them. And I have also 
subjoined " The Apostles' Creed, composed in 
the first ages of Christianity," and also *" The 
Creedof Saint Athanasiiis," imposed upon Chris- 
tians in the fourth Century. 

And now I leave the reader to examine them, 
and compare them with the New Testament, 
and to determine for himself, which, among 
them all, coniform s most nearly to the require- 
ments of Jesus Christ and his Apostles ; or 
rather, perhaps I might say, which is the widest 
departure therefrom. 

•Copied verbatim, literatim, et interpunctum, from an old C:j- 
ford Bible, purchased some twenty-five or more years ago of the 
estate of the late Gen. James Reed, of Fitchburg. 



258 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

O ! when will that happy time arrive, when 
all the professed disciples of the meek and low- 
ly Jesns shall be willing to sit down at the same 
table, and commnne together in remembrance 
of their common Lord and Savior, without re- 
quiring of each other to confess more than was 
required by Philip of the Ethiopian, viz : / 
believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. " 



TOWX-IIOrSES AND TOWN-MEETINGS. 
The two Town-houses having been but bare- 
ly alluded to, I deem it proper to give a more 
particular account of them both in this place. 
And in doing so I shall extract from an Ad- 
dress delivered at the dedication of the New 
Town Hall, Nov. 7, 1851. It was whilst search- 
ing the Records, in the preparation of that ad- 
dress, that I came to the conclusion to comply 
with the request of those who, for several years, 
had been importuning me to write the history 
of this town. Until Oct. 25, 17-12, the Town- 
meetings were held m dwelling-houses ; and 
from that time for eighty-two years, with a sin- 
o-le exception, they were all held in the first two 
Meeting-houses. But after the third meeting 
house had been completed it was pretty evident 
that, on account of an alteration in the consti- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 259 

tution of the commonwealth, and some other 
circumstances, the time coukl not be far distant, 
when there would be two or more houses for 
public worship in the town, and that those 
houses would be owned by the respective relig- 
ious societies w^orshiping in the same, and not 
by the town in its corporate capacity ; and hence 
it would be not only expedient, but also neces- 
sary, that some other building should be pro- 
vided, in which the town meetings could be 
lawfully held. And to this end, in conformity 
to sundry votes passed by the town at diiFerent 
times, in relation to the subject, the second 
meeting house, (John Gardner, Esq., is the on- 
ly man now living in town who saw that house 
raised,) w^as converted into a town house, and 
located on the westerly end of the new meeting 
house lot. Tlie house is fifty feet by forty — two 
stories high — the upper story fitted up for a 
Town Hall, and the lower one for school rooms, 
and a room for Town Officers. The expenses 
incurred, in addition to the materials of the 
meeting-house, were about eleven hundred dol- 
lars. The first town meeting was held in it 
Nov. 1, 1824, on which occasion a dedicatory, 
and very appropriate prayer was made by the 
late Rev. Abel Conant. In that Hall the town- 
nieetings were held twenty-seven years. But 



260 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

on account of the rapid and unparalelled in- 
crease of the popuhition during the ten years 
preceeding 1850, as well as for some other rea- 
sons, it was determined, so far as concerned the 
town-meetings, to pass away from that house 
and leave it. And during the years 1850 and 
1851, sundry votes were passed by the town, 
whereby it was determined that a new Towi^i 
House should be erected on land that had been 
purchased for the purpose, on the westerly side 
of the First Congregational Meeting-house ; — 
the necessary funds for defraying the expenses 
were provided, a plan of the building adopted, 
and a Committee, consisting of Messrs. Joel W. 
Fletcher, Joseph Haskell, George AV. Wake- 
field, Ephraira Robbins, and John Xicholsf ap- 
pointed to superintend the work, and carry 
all the objects into effect. How faithfully and 
successfully that Committee discharged the ar- 
duous and responsible duties incumbent upon 
them, is well known. For their indefatigable 
labors, perseverance and care, by which the 
building was completed within the time pre- 
scribed in the vote of the town, tliey were rich- 
ly entitled to the thanks of all. 

It is true that this noble and substantial ed- 
ifice was not erected " without the sound of axe, 
hammer, or any other tool of iron," as was the 



lilSTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 261 

case of Solomon's Temple of old, nor was any 
sucli thing to be expected. The structure of 
the body of the house being of brick, it was 
necessary that the workmen 

" Should in one hand hold the trowel, that little iron tool," 

which, for so many past ages, has been used by 
masons to spread the cement that unites a buil- 
ding into one common mass, whilst, with tlie 
other hand, they shuuld place the material in 
its proper position. But through the diligence 
and skill of the contractor, Mr. Joseph Haskell, 
the work went on regularly from the founda- 
tion to the top. Through all the grades of the 
laborers from tlio principal overseer to the bear- 
ers of the burdens, there appeared to be content- 
ment. No "conspiracies" were formed, no "strik- 
ing for higher wages," no contention about the 
" ten hour system " ; but from morn till night, 
day after day, week after week, and month af- 
ter month, the sound of the working tools and 
the machinery was pretty constantly heard. — 
And the Building in all its apartments was com- 
pleted. 

The length of the House is eighty feet, and 
the width fifty-seven. The walls are thirty-one 
feet in height, and the roof is slated. The Town 
Hall is 60 feet by 54, and 20 feet high in the 
clear. The basement contains one room for 



262 HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 

town officers 34 feet by 20 — a safe for the Rec- 
ords, 10 feet by 6, — a room 20 feet by 20 for 
the sealer of weights and measures — an engine 
room 44 feet by 20 — and a spare room 32 feet 
by ^0, all finished in the best style. 

And in the afternoon of the seventh of No- 
vember, 1851, the legally qualified voters of the 
town, and otlicr men — the wives and the moth- 
ers, the sisters and the daughters, the old and 
the young, assembled themselves together to 
occupy that spacious Hall for the first time, and 
all rejoice together. In solemn prayer to God, 
and by. other oppropriate exercises, it was then 
and there dedicated and set apart for the sever- 
al purposes for wliich it had been designed. 
And long may it continue to he a place of or- 
der, instruction and usefulness — but never, 7iev- 
er a phace of disorder, confusion and iniquity. 

If tliere be any one trait in the character of 
the men of this town of which, more than of 
any other, tliey have reason to be proud, it is 
for the good order which, from the beginning, 
has been observed in their town-me'etings. Those 
two examples of being seated during tlie dis- 
cussion of" important and interesting subjects, 
and of rising and addressing the Presiding Of- 
ficers with the liead uncovered, which were set 
bv those few worthy men assembled in town- 



HISTORY OF LEOMINSTER. 263 

meeting, at the house of Mr. Benjamin Whit- 
comb, on the 15th of December, 1740, to de- 
termine the momentous question of building a 
Meeting House, have been pretty generally 
followed from that time to the present. And 
I sincerely hope and trust, that the men who 
are now on the stage of public action here, 
wdll transmit those, and all other good exam- 
ples, to their successors; and they again to 
theirs ; and so on doAvn to the latest period of 
the town's existence. 



INDEX. 



F.VOE. 

Lancaster, ^ 

Audition AL Grant, ^ 

Leominster incorporated, ^ J 

Boundaries, ^'' 

Ponds, Rivers, &c., ^^ 

Surface, Soil, &o., f^ 

Patriotism, |^ 

Death of Gen. Washington, oJ 



62 

JVU.Vl'O, ^. 

Turnvikes 



Railroads, ^^ 

Schools and School Houses, ^^ 



School Committee,. 
Teachers,. 



Printing,. 



Paper Mill; 

Combs, 

Pianofortes. 
Aged Persons 



80 
84 



V.UX...-.X....,.., • 86 

Post Office, • 



91 



Representatives, &c. , 94 

Medical Practitioners, J7 

Legal Profession, j"^ 

Tanneries, |Y° 

Boots, Shoes, Saddles, &c., |,^Y 

Potash 11^ 

Shade Trees }\^ 

Mills, }f^ 



.125 
.131 
.135 

^^^^^^^__ '145 

Ecclesiastical, |'^^ 

First Meeting House, ". 1^^ 

First.Minister, !„'» 

Dissatisfaction with Mr Rogers, c" « ' 

His Marriage and Death, 184 & ^ 

Ordination of Mr. Gardner, 187 

His Marriage and Death 189 

Second Meeting House, 1 •'4 

Rev. Mr. Bascom, ^^7 

Ordination of Mr. Conant,. 199 

His Marriage and Death, 201 

Third Meeting House, 201 

Ordination of Mr. Stebiuns, 21^4 

Ordination of Mr. Withington, 206 

Installation of Mr. Smith, • 209 

Evangelical Church > -|J 

Meeting Houses and Ministers, 212 

Methodist E. Society, &c. 214 

Baptist Church, &c., 216 

Officers of the Churches,.. 218 

Covenants, Creeds, §c., • • • 2'^ 

Town Houses......... • -^ 



X--^^- 



